Sketches of Wood County : its early history : as embraced in and connected with other counties of West Virginia : also brief accounts of first settlers and their descendants : including accounts of its soils, timber, minerals, water, and material wealth

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1437770

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

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Digitized by the Internet Archive
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SKETCHES

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COUNTY:

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EARLY HISTORY;

As embraced in and connected with other

Counties of West Virginia.

Brief accounts of

FIRST SETTI 1715 Q

AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.
Including accounts of its

Soils. Timber, Minerals, Water.

MATERIAL WEALTH.

B7

s. C. SKAW.

Part First. Price 50 Cents.

PARKERSBUltG, WEST VA.:
George Elletson, Job Printer, Court Square.
1878.

;• F. - ' ' 52 Z'ZKT'

1437770

PREFACE.

Forty-six years ago, the author of these Sketches, then a young
man, became a permanent citizen of the town of Parkersburg, in
Wood county, Virginia. At that time, Parkersburg, the seat of jus-
tice in the county, was a small town on the southern banks ot the
Ohio river, above and adjoining the Little Kauawha, and contained a
population of about two hundred inhabitants Up to that time and
after, the territory of Wood county had remained the same as when
the county was first organized; embracing an area of about fourteen
hundred square miles, and contained 2 population of between six
and seven thousand mhabitants.

Since that date, by the formation of new counties from the origi-
nal territory of Wood, the area of the county has been greatly les-
sened, and now contains only about one-fourth of its original boun-
daries, and yet such has been the increase of its population, that it
now contains upwards of twenty thousand inhabitants. He might
here add that the territory which has been taken off, in the formation
of new counties, has probably increased in population and material
wealth, in like proportion. This permanent increase of inhabitants
and wealth, sneaks volumes for the social and commercial advantages
ot our uew State. It carries upon its face the evidences of affluence,
prosperity social happiness.

Changing 4fte form of expression from the past tense, to the present,
ve will say, mat during the first seven years of our citizenship in Par-
kersburg, wo were employed and performed the duties ofClerk of the-
County Court of Wood county; and for several years was Deputy, under
the late James H.Neal,Esq., Clerk of its Circuit Superior Court Be-
tween the years of 1845 and 1855, for seven years, we held the office and
personally performed all the duties of Assessor and Commissioner of
the county. Also during those years, as Surveyor, we became well
acquainted with the lands of the county, in their various localities.

Having closely and carefully studied and improved these sources

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of information, arising from these several positions occupied by U3,
we became familiar with the history of the county, its early settle-
ments, and many of its hardy, bold and enterprising inhabitants.
Also we acquired a general knowledge of its lands, aiera, water-
courses, soil, productions and natural advantages. The <d versified
scenery of its mountain slopes and valleys, with its salubrious Cli-
mate, and health-restoring and invigorating agencies, being snob as
to add to the length of our years, we have taken pleasure in penning
these sketches, and thus complying with the oft-expressed wishes of
personal friends, by presenting them to the public. They are the re-
sults of many hours of reflection, toil and research, and have been
revised and corrected from a series we published in the Parkersburg
Sentinel.

In conclusion, permit us to say, that in the opening paragraph
above, we referred to our forty-six years of residence in Parkersburg.
At its commencement, that length of time then appeared long, yet k
has been past. Now, in the review, it appears but a step. Yet along
the way we have had sunshine and shadows — hours of pleasure and
pain — broken shrines of affection and love are in dust and ashes at
our feet — footprints upon the sands of time have been made and
washed away — mounds covered with the green grass have been mois-
tened with tears, covering forms that cannot be effaced from the tab-
let of memory. In penning these pages, we have labored to bring
back, and converge some of the rays of sunshine and joy, which
once illuminated our pathway, and gave hope and happiness — do call
back the associations of other years, and other friends, and perpetuate
their memories.

Should this effort prove successful, and be appreciated by our citi-
zens, we Lave the materials on hand for their continuance — materials
which have uot yet been published, in addition to those which have
appeared, which we desire to revise. If errors are made to a op ear
in auy of these pages, we will take pleasure in correcting them, when
pointed out. Our object being, to present facts, as they are interwo-
ven with the early settlers of the county. Much has been omitted,
owing to the uncertainty enshrouding the past. With these thoughts
aud anxieties, we submit these pages to the consideration of the pub-
lic.

S. C. SHAW.

Leafy Glen, W. Va.

CHAPTZi^ X.

' IHTRODUCflOH*

The bold, hardy and venturesome pioneers who first emigrate and take
possession of a country, and with labor, toil and privations, put forth
strong and unwearied efforts to clear away the heavy primeval forests,
and subdue the soil to cultivation, should be held in remembrance in the
history of that country. Especially should that be the case when the
multiplied incidents, scenes, adventures and sufferings connected with
their history are fading and disappearing in the dim shadows and back-
ground of the nast.

It is at such a time that these varied incidents ought naturally to be-
come deeply interesting to the generations that follow — those who thus
enjoy the rewards of their ancestors’ adventurous toil. And yet how
often it is the case that but a few of those early adventurers leave their
names, or a posterity behind them to record their doings: — their feats of
daring and courage — their adventures and toils — their privations and
sufferings. .. .

Time, in its ever onward flight, soon leaves the present in the past and
the past is soon lost in forgetfulness. One generation passeth away and
another coraeth and is soon gone — gone from the present to make room
for the myriads who are crowding the earth in its onward course of years.
Eut a few, only a few, of the teeming multitudes — the countless millions
of all the '..w. generations of the past, havepermanantly fixed their name3,
and caused them to stand out upon the records of time, or left a memen-
to of the stirring events which were numbered in their generation.

Ere the history of the early settlements made in our county, with the
changes of its name, as connected with the State, as also the names of
the prominent actors, together with such reflections as may arise in our
mind, will claim the attention of these Chapters, made up from such
scanty materials as we can now command.

c

EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS,

But in doing so, vre are fully aware that many of those early settler —
those first pioneers to the county, whose activo energies were here spent,
and whose genial smiles and social bearings once gladdened the hearts
of many are gone, leaving no records of themselves among the living.
Owing to these causes our sketches will be imperfect and incomplete, and
will lose much of their interest, which might otherwise be interwoven in
our early history as a county.

The reader in forming a correct idea of the difficulties and dangers
attending the first settlements of Western and Northwestern Virginia,
along the slopes of the Allegheny Mountains and on to the Ohio river, it
will become necessary for him to go far back in the history of Virginia,
to its collonial records, and from thence to trace the slow, toilsome move-
ments Westward amid the difficulties and dangers which then environed
her surroundings.

Again, for the purpose of obtaining a clear and good understanding,
and forming correct ideas of the trials and conflicts attending the early
settlements made in this then far western country, it will be necessary to
have a knowledge of the character and influences brought to bear upon
the aboriginees then inhabiting the great Northwestern territory, as then
connected with the policy of those Nations of Europe who were seeking
to establish and maintain their claims and authority in these Coi nies, as
the rightful owners of the soil, in the seventeenth and eighteenth, centu-
ries. ■ ,

Three of those great powers— viz.; England, France and Spain, were
contending for and claiming by right of discovery, large parts and por-
tions of this Western Continent, zi'r\ d were constantly at variance with
each other, as to their rights and boundaries. Hence, was inaugurated
by two of those powers — viz.: I '. mce and England — what has beer,
here known in history, as the French War, between the years 1750 and
17G5. This war between the French and English governments was
mainly confined to, and carried on in the colonies of this country, as then
claimed by each of them. In the prosecution of this war, tho French
government formed alliances with the numerous Indian tribes, then in-
habiting the great Northwestern territory.

By its promises of protection and rewards, that Government enlisted
these tribes of the forests to engage in their barbarous methods of cruel-
ty and blood upon the frontier settlements of those colonies. Theso
atrocious alliances were formed and perfected through their agents and
emissaries, at that time extensively engaged in commercial transactions,
as connected with the fur trade with these Indians.

Hence may be traced much of the hostility of the Indians, and the
reason for their cruel and relentless course. Much of the horrors of
their mode of warfare may be and is justly chargeablo upon the French
government, during these years of untold sufferings.

It is a well known and established fact that the disposition and gener-
al character of the Indian was far more amicablo and reliable when the

ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN.

country -was first discovered by the Europeans, than it now is, or has
been since. He then was in possession of more noble and generous and
worthy qualities of mind and heart, thereby molding his character more
in accordance with the great moral principles of reliance, truth and jus-
tice.

Those thoughts and considerations open a wide field for reflection
and should he improved by every American citizen. The law-
making power of our General Government, in all its dealings with
the Indians, should carefully consider their relations to this country,
and then act with impartial justice.

Again, during the dangers and struggles of the Revolutionary
War, in which the thirteen colonies of this country contended with
Great Britain for their independence, similar alliances were formed
by that Government, through their agents, with these Indian tribes,
at and immediately anterior to 1776, which lasted during the contin-
uance of that bloody conflict. And again, in the war with that Gov-
ernment in 1812-15, the same inhuman policy was adopted by that
Government, in enlisting t .use savage tribes iu the work ot barbar-
ism, cruelty and dr Ah. hence, as we have before said, much of the
hostility and cruelty of the Indians, in their savage and sickeniug
mode ot warfare, is justly chargeable upon those enlightened nations
of Europe, and for which they should be held accountable by the
historian in all time to come.

From these considerations and others which might be given, it
must be apparent to the mind of the reader that the cruel hostility
of these tribes — these denizens of the forest — towards the citizens of
these colonies, in their raids for plunder — for taking into captivity
men, women and children, and tor their cruel and bloody acts of
barbarism upon the first settlements made in the great Mississippi
Valley, and its numerous tributaries, are chargeable upon those en-
lightened Governments of the Old World.

Consequently, as we have before said, in making up and reviewing
the history of those years of darkness and sufferings we have felt
and still feel, that much of the sin and sorrows visited upon these
early pioneers, will not and should not rest upon the “poor Indian.”

It is undoubtedly true that in feeling and disposition for protect".. <g
themselves and their posterity in their territorial hunting grounds,
they felt, and to some considerable extent carried out, their feelings
of hatred and aversion, but these had become greatly intensified and
made cruel and relentless by those emissaries then acting under the
direction of these foreign Governments. Consequently, as we have
already said, it well becomes the historian, in writing of these
early times, and the records of those years ot bloody and inhuman
strife, he should not pass byr and lose sight of these facts. They
should be carefully considered and plead in extenuation of many of
the inhuman barbarities of those years when these Indian tribes ot

8

FRENCH WAR, REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

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the forest went forth upon the war-path. In presenting these sem-
inary sketches of those times, we have, therefore, felt that we were
called upou by the principles of truth and justice to make this avowal
for the “poor Indian,-’ whoa speaking of the early settlements of
Western and Northwestern Virginia anh their tragic memories.

During the latter part of the eighteenth century, owing to the
active aud controlling influences made by these European Govern-
ments, through their agents, then passing from one fort or station to
another, extending from the Canadas and the Northern lakes to the
Ohio river, which they then brought to bear upon these tribes, but
few attempts were made by the Government to colonize any parts or
portions of this Western and Northwestern Virginia, and those then
made were wholly insufficient for the protection of those who had
sought homes in what was then known as the Far West.

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OHx^PTBB XX.

THE FORMATION QF COUNTIES.

In our introductory Chapter, we gave to the reader, summary state-
ments of the nature- and character of the various influences brought to
bear upon the Indian tribes of the Northwestern territory, by the French
and English governments, with our reflections thereon, as interwoven
in and standing connected with the early settlements of the colony of Vir-
ginia— its wilderness territory and subsequent history.

This was done, not only in justice to those unlettered denizens of the
forest, but for the purpose of placing the responsibilities and blame where
they so justly belonged. Those great European governments then were
included in the enlightened and civilized nations of the earth, whose so-
cial and civil institutions were endowed with, and should have been guid-
ed by the principles and precepts of the Christian religion, as then
connected with those governments. Hence we have held, and now hold
them to the just responsibilities of their conduct and policy as enlighten-
ed and christianized nations, and also for the results of their combined
acts ; adopted, pursued and carried out by each of them individually as
nations, in their efforts to support and maintain their assumed territo-
rial claims.

Having thus briefly referred to these historic facts, so painfully con-
nected with the early settlements of Virginia, in her valleys and over
her mountains, lying West and Northwest of the Blue Ridge, we now-
turn the attention of the reader to the divisions and sub-divisions of its
territories and counties.

At and prior to the Irdepevi.lenco of the United States in 1776, the
popular branch of Colon ; 1 legislation in Virginia, wa3 known as tho
“House of Burgesses.” It enacted its laws under a provincial charter,
granted by the English government, to whom its allegiance was due.
The House of Burgesses by its enactments from time to time, laid off
the wilderness territory into counties, as its increasing population ad-

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10

AUGUSTA, FREDERICK — DISTRICT OF WEST AUGUSTA.

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vanced their forest settlements westward beyond the mountains of the
Blue Ridge,

In 1738, the ounties of Frederick and Augusta were formed by pre-
scribed metes gvjd bounds, embracing a large territory of land west of
the Blue Ridge mountains. All the vast and wide spread wilderness
territ ry, Ivin* Zest and Northwest of those two counties, was then
name*; and < - . gnated by the House of Burgesses, ‘‘The District of
West August % " extending on the Northwest to the Ohio river, and
West as far as he colonial territory extended. The lands now embrac-
ed in 'he State of West Virginia, formed a portion of the territory, then
kno as the District of West Augusta.

In . 754 the county of Hampshire was formed from parts of Frederick
and Augusta counties. 4 t wy y,

In 1770 the county of Botetourt was' formed by a division of the
county of Augusta.

In 1772 the counties of. Berkeley .and Shenandoah -were formed by
sub-divisions of the county of Frederick;

In 1776 the counties of Ohio and Monongalia were formed out of the
northwestern part of the District of West Augusta, and embraced the
territory between the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania on the
northeast and the Big Kanawha on the southwest, lying southeast of the
Ohio river. Ohio county extending down the Ohio river, from Pennsyl-
vania to the mouth of Middle Island creek. Monongalia county lying
southeast of Ohio county and extending below and down the Ohio river
trom the mouth of Middle Island creek to the valley of the Big Kan-
awha river, and from thence northeast to the State nf Maryland. . .

In 1777 and 177S Montgomery and Greenbrier counties were formed
from the western and northwestern portion of the District of West Au-
gusta, extending west of the Allegheny Mountains to Big Sandy river
and down its valley and the valley of the Big Kanawha, to the Ohio
river, which then formed tho southwestern boundary of the county of
Monongalia. •

In 1784 the county of Monongalia was divided, and the northwestern
part was named Harrison, in honor of Benjamin Harrison, then Gover-
nor of Virginia. This county then extended from its division line
northwest to the Ohio river, and down the Ohio river to the valley of
the Big Kanawha river, then embraced in Greenbrier county. During
these years while the land in Western Virginia was embraced in the te
ritory of Monongalia and Harrison counties, numerous large surveys 0.
land were entered and patented by land speculators. These entries
when surveyed, the lines of which intersected each other, causing much
confusion in the titles of these lands. More of this anon. .

In 1789 the county of Kanawha was formed by a division of Green-
brier county, and embraced the beautiful valley of the Big Kanawha to
the Ohio river. The territory of this county then embraced one of
the richest portions of West Virginia.

■WOOD COUNTY — ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES, AC.

11

By an Act of the House of Burgesses in 1799, the county of Wood
was set off by a division of the county of Harrison, and was named
in honor ot Governor Wood, of Virginia. Its northeastern boundary
line was Ohio count}'; its southeastern boundary was the line separa-
ting it from the county of Harrison; its southwestern line was the
county of Kanawha, and its northwestern boundary was the Ohio
river. Its territory as then formed, contained about 1400 square
miles. The Little Kanawha river, heading in the slopes of the Alle-
gheny Mountains and running northwest, joined the Ohio river at
Parkersburg, dividing the county into nearly two equal parts. Ow-
ing to conflicting interests of its settlers, the regular organization of
the county did not take place until tho 10th of March, 1800.

In 1804 Mason county was formed by a division of Kanawha coun-
ty, taking in the valley of Big Kanawha to the Ohio river. For many
years thereafter this county formed the southwestern boundary of
Wood county.

In 1814 Tyler count} was formed by a division ot Ohio county; it
was takeu from its southwestern part, and became the northeastern
boundary of Wood county. '

In 1816 the county of Lewis was formed by another division made
of Harrison county, and for many years was the southern boundary
of Wood county.

We have thus traced and defined the boundaries of Wood county,
as it was first formed in 1799, and as it remained up to the year
1832. The reader will perceive that its territory was embraced in, and
formed a part of that celebrated territory of Virginia, known and
desiguated in the eighteenth century as the District of West Augus-
ta from theyear 173S to the year 1776. From the year 1776 to the
year 1784 it was included in the territory of Monongalia coilnty;
and from the year 1784 to the year 1799 it formed the western part
of Harrison county, and from that year to 1832 the territorial boun-
daries of the county remained unchanged.

The first settlements made in any of the territory of this county
was when it formed a part of Harrison county. Yet in all its vast
territory such was the slow progress made in its settlement, that
in the United States census taken in 1830 it contained only a popu-
lation of 6,414 persons, and its taxation was §4,257. There were va-
rious causes which operated unfavorably to its rapid settlement and
increase of population. Of these we may have more to say hereaft-
er. But owing to these causes, one ot the most romantic, pictur-
esque, healthy and iuvigorating portions of our common country,
whose rich alluvial soils, abounding in vast beds of mineral wealtK,
numerous heavy veins of coal, forests of every variety of timber, and
rivers and streams of water, and water power were passed by for
years and left in their primeval solitude.

12 NEW COUNTIES.

Leaving all these adverse circumstances and their considerations
for the present, we again return to the historical sketches of V/ ood
county and its territory from the year 1832, down to the present time.

By an act of the Legislature of Virginia in 1832. the county of Jack-
son was formed from the counties ot Wood and Mason. In the for-
mation ot this county, about one-half of its territory was taken from
each ot the above-named counties, taking from Wood all the lands
lying southwest of a line running from the mouth of Pond Creek,
on the Ohio river, in a southerly direction to the northern boundary
of Lewis county. Ripley, a pleasant settlement on Mill Creek, in a
central portion of the territory, was made the county seat This
county embraces a fine body ot land for agricultural purposes, and is
rich in mineral wealth aud prospective affluence. Ravenswood, on
the Ohio river, its emporium, is beautifully situated on an elevated
plateau, with good pikes and roads extending to the back counties.
A hopeful future awaits the enterprise of the citizens of this county.

The northeastern portion of the present county of Roane, taken
from Jackson county, was, prior to 1832, a portion of Wood county.

In 1843 the county of Ritchie was formed from the eastern portion
of Wood. Ilarrisville, situated on the north fork ot Hughes river,
was made the county seat. The Northwestern Virginia Railroad, a
branch of the Baltimore cc Ohio Railroad, passes through the central
part of this county from East to West. On its track are many beau-
tiful and picturesque towns, lately sprung upas points of commercial
business. The lands of this county are rough, broken and mountain-
ous, yet abounding in rich minerals, oils aud other substances, invit-
ing the enterprise of capitalists.

A portion of the territory of the present county of Doddridge was,
prior to 1843, embraced in the boundaries of Wood county, in con-
nection with the county of Ritchie. From these facts, the reader can
form some idea of the large territory of land once embraced in the
boundaries of Wood county.

In 1848 Wirt county was formed from the southern part of Wood,
lying on both sides of the Little Kanawha river. The town of Eliza-
beth, on the south side of the river, above the mouth of Tucker’s creek,
became the county seat. On the north side of the river, eight miles
above Elizabeth, are the famous Burning Springs, and the great oil
basin, from which there is exported annually vast quantities of petro-
leum. A town by that name has there sprung up, inviting capital-
ists. The working of these subterranean deposits of oil, in late years,
has added greatly to the wealth and population of this county. Slack-
water navigation, by dams, of the Little Kanawha, from Parkersburg
on the Ohio, to Burning Springs, is opening up a new field of com-
mercial enterprise to the back counties along the valley of the river
and its tributaries, aud should receive the fostering attention and care
of the government. Slack-water navigation of this river up to the

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NEW COUNTIES.

13

beds of mineral wealth which lie hid in the back mountains, would in-
crease the commerce of the entire Little Kanawha Valley.

At the time Dr. David Creel, who represented Wood county in the Leg-
islature of Virginia, about the year 1820, made an effort to have the
State engaged in this enterprise bj improving this river by slack-water
navigation. Ilia effort met with opposition from the eastern portion of
the State, causing its failure.

An Act of incorporation for this improvement was granted by the
Legislature of West Virginia on the 28th day of January, 18G6 ; and
an Act amendatory thereto, on the 4th day of March, 1868. The work
of improvement of the river under the provisions of these Acts, from
the city of Parkersburg to Burning Springs in Wirt county, a distance
of upwards of forty miles, was commeuced in 1870 and 1871. The
late General J. J. Jackson and the lion. J. N. Camden have been the
fast and firm friends in prosecuting this great work, and it is. now open
and in active operation from Parkersburg to limning Springs.

In 1851 the county of Pleasants was formed from Wood, Tyler and
Ritchie. In its formation all the territory of Wood between Bull creek
and Middle Island was taken. St. Mary’s, situated on the Ohio below
the mouth of Middle Island, was made the county seat. This county
presents a fine body of land for agricultural enterprise. It has a coast
on the Ohio river of about twenty-five miles, embracing rich and wide-
spreading bottoms of the best of lands. Middle Island creek, with its
fertile bottoms and uplands, divides this county into nearly two equal
parts.

St. Mary’s, the county seat, is pleasantly located on the Ohio river;
has a population of about 600. A Masonic, Odd Fellow and Encamp-
ment Lodges are by Charters in active operation in the town ; also sev-
eral churches and church edificc-s. In the Fall of 1877 a weekly news-
paper was established, known as the Watch Word , edited by the Rev. F.
M. Yates. This county is assuming a healthy and prosperous position
among the Ohio river counties of the State.

In the formation of the four counties named above, since the year
1832, the county of Wood has lost nearly three-fourths of its original
territory. Y^et such has been its marvelous advancement in wealth and
population, that it now has within its circumscribed boundaries an assess-
able property of about $8,000,000, and a population of upwards of 20,-
000. And further, it may bo said, that the new counties formed from
her original territory have increased in like proportion.

Few portions of our common country laboring under so many disad-
vantages, can boast of a more healthy advancement in all the material
elements of wealth and prosperity than Wood county. Her original
large territory has been taken away in the formation of these new coun-
ties, until she now has only about 350 square miles.

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■' ;■ chapteb iii. : -

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' ’ : V * ’ --COLONIAL SETTLEMENTS*" . '

In the preceding Chapter we traced the divisions and subdivisions
of Western and Northwestern Virginia into counties, as its increasing
population demanded, and the spirit of enterprise pushed its settle-
ments westward and northwestward from the Valley of Virginia. The
blouse of Burgesses were active in their efforts to meet the necessities'
of these settlements, as they arose from time to time in its colonial
history. ’i • -t • , < .

These divisions and subdivisions of counties in We stern and North-
western Virginia we traced from 1738, when the District of West
Augusta was formed, down to the present boundaries of Wood county,
showing in what name the territory of Wood county was included
during those years. • • • ■> -

We now turn back, and in a brief and general way, view and trace
the history of the settlements from the first decades oi the eighteenth
century onward, under the influences and surrounding dangers of
those times. ( -• •:

In the early part of the eighteenth coutury settlements were being
made in the Shanandoah Valley and up the Eastern elopes of the Al-
leghany mountains, and also up the valleys of the James and Roan--
oke rivers west of the Blue Ridge; also about the same period of time
settlements were being made up tiiat portion of Virginia generally
known as the “Northern Neck."

The bold and enterprising pioneers who entered these primeval
forests were subjected to various and adverse fortunes, hardships and
sufferings from the frequent raids and incursions of the Indians; es-
pecially from those inhabiting the Northwestern territory, whose
war-paths extended up the two Kanawhas and Sandy rivers and
through the forests of Kentucky. Owing to these uutoward circum-
stances the efforts then made to pass the barriers of the Alleghany
mountains were failures, and were abandoned until about the year
1769, at which time there was a treaty, or a partial treaty of peace
with these Indian tribes.

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V

FRENCH WAk

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Also, during the early part of the eighteenth century the French
Government, under her rights of discovery, was putting forth strong
and vigorous efforts to claim and hold her possessions in the valley of
the great Mississippi and its tributary waters. Under the fostering care
of that Government, stations or posts of trade were established among
the numerous tribes of Indians then inhabiting the great Northwestern
territory. These trading posts extended from the Canadas and the
Northern lakes to the Ohio river, and from thence onward to the terri-
tory of Louisiana. They also established and sustained a few settle-
ments at different places within the territory thus claimed.

The House of Burgesses of Virginia, under her Colloidal Charter
from the English Government, rejected this rival claim put forth by the
French Government to any and • all the territory of the Upper illssis-
sippi. From time to time schemes were projected by the Rouse of Bur-
gesses for taking, holding and colonizing the same under the provisons
of the grant specified in the Colonial Charter. But owing to the sparse
population and her colonial weakness, she failed in her attempts to
sustain these enteprises. • • . ■..../

About the year 1750, the French Government established fort3 on
the Upper Ohio river, and one at the junction of the Monongahela and
Allegheny rivers, which she named Fort DuQuesne, which occupied the
present site of the city of Pittsburg. At that time about sixty miles of
the western part of the territory now embraced in the State of Pennsyl-
vania was claimed and supposed to belong to the Colony of Virginia.

Under the authority of the English Government, acting with the
House of Burgesses of Virginia in 1754, General Braddock, at the
head of an army, inarched from Winchester, \ra., to within a few miles
of Fort DuQuesne, where, after crossing the Monongahela river, he was
ambushed and defeated by the Indians and lost his life. The retreat of
the army was conducted by Col. George Washington. The object for
capturing Fort DuQuesne from the French by the Virginia House of
Burgesses was to settle and establish her claim in the Northwestern ter-
ritory, and secure her settlements on the Ohio river and its tributaries
against the devastations of the Indians and the claims of France.

During the war with the French Government in. 1758, General Forbes,
of Pennsylvania, made a successful movement and captured the Fort
from the French and Indians, and held it until the close of that war,
and gave to it the name of Fort Pitt. After the close of that war in.
1705, by a treaty of peace, the French Government relinquished all her
claims to the lands in the Northwestern territory.. But the war spirit of
the Indians, who had been their confederates and allies during that war,
still survived and manifested itself in frequent raids upon the Virginia
Colony until 1769, when a treaty of peace was concluded with them.

From thence during a comparative peace with these Indian tribes of
two or three years, the hardy anu enterprising yeomanry of Virginia
and other ifouthern Colonies again pushed forward their settlements

16

INDIAN WAR.

Northward and 'Westward. In 17G9, 1770 and 1771, settlements were
extended further up the James and Roanoke rivers, and also over on the
Greenbrier and New rivers, and also on the Monongahela river and its
tributaries, and down the Ohio river as far as V,' ’heeling and Grave creek.

The contest growing out of the dissatisfaction of the American Col-
onies with Great Britain, the mother country, was then rapidly approach-
ing. The deep ground swell of discontent and rebellion was agitating
the colonial legislatures in all parts of the country ; a full knowledge of
which was communicated to the Indian tribes of the Northwestern ter-
ritory by British fur traders and agents who had taken the place of tho
French traders, causing these tribes to become restless and warlike,
thereby making it necessary for the Colony of Virginia to raise troops
and send northwest for the safety and protection of her settlements. •

In the summer of 1774, steps were taken by the House of Burgess-
es of virerinia to raise two divisions — one under the command of
Lord In.-, ""e. Governor of Va., to march to Fort Pitt, the other un-
der the eomma-1 of Gen’l. Andrew Lewis, to march to the mouth of
the Big Kanawha. It was arranged that he would there be joined
by a detachment from Fort Pitt, with ammunition and supplies, early
in October. But Gov. Dunmore, at Fort Pitt, remained strangely in-
active, and, for some cause not fully accounted tor, sent no supplies or
ammunition to Gen’l. Lewis. (He however inarched down the Ohio
river as tar as Big Hocking. There he stopped and erected a Fort.
From there, he marched to near Chilicorhe, and met the great Chief-
tain, Corn6toek, and, concluded a partial peace with him, and returned
to Virginia, on the winter following.) On the morning of the ilth of
October; 1774, Gen’l. Lewis found himself and his little arm}7 sur-
rounded by the Shawnee Indian tribes, headed and led on by that
tearless Indian monarch and warrior, the celebrated Cornstalk. Tho
battle which followed was long, tierce and bloody, lasting the entire
day. The great Chief was in the thickest of the tight, cheering his
men by word and deed. As night came on Cornstalk called off his
forces, gave up the battle, and retreated across the Ohio. Gea’l. Lewis
being left in possession of the ground, soon after erected a Fort, which
was afterwards held and garrisoned tor the purpose of intersecting
the Indian war-path up the Valley of the Big Kanawha, and thereby
giving protection to the inland settlements ot Virginia, and securing
its border territory.

The strange course and policy pursued by Gov. Dunmore towards
Gen’i. Lewis, in relation to this battle, and the circumstances connect-
ed with his meeting with Cornstalk and his Chiefs in their territory
without suitable protection, and the hasty treaty of peace then made
with the Shawnee nation furnish strong evidence tor the belief that
Gov. Dunmore was in possession ot the policy then being pursued by
the British Government in the formation of alliances with these In-
dian tribes, preparatory to the war then approaching. The course

1774. RATTLE AT POINT PLEASANT.

17

he then pursued, taken in connection with his subsequent acts as Gover-
nor, lemls to this conclusion. Viewing the approaching contest of tho
Revolutionary War from this standpoint, makes the battle of General
Lewis, at Point Pleasant, on the 11th day of October, 1774, the first bat-
tle fought for American independence. It removes the commencement
of that great struggle for liberty and independence from Lexington and
Concord, in the State of Massachusetts, to the valley of the Ohio river,
in the District of West Augusta. It was at PointPleasant, on the 11th day
of October, 1774, where the Virginia forces met and conquered these
savage allies of the British Government, and thus gained the first victory
for American independence. Let a .monument to the memory of those
brave men be there erected to commemorate that first battle for liberty.

Again, in referring to the formation of the first 'settlements made in
the District of West Augusta, between the years 1709 and 1774, it will
be seen that those settlements swept in a circular belt, at station points
as centers, around a large wilderness of heavy forest lands. Commen-
cing at Wheeling and Grave creek, on the Ohio river, in the North, pass-
ing over the dividing mountains to the waters of the Monongahela river,
thence to Clarksburg on the West Fork river, thence over to Tygart
Valley and Buckhannon rivers in the East, from thence southward to
the Greenbrier and New rivers, and from thence westward down New
and Big Kanawha rivers to the Ohio river at Point Pleasant. This semi-
circle embraces a space of about 170 miles on the Ohio river, extending
back southeastward from 50 to 125 miles.

Owing to the exposed condition and near approaches to tho Indian
towns and settlements in the northwestern territory, from which squads
of Indians were passing and repassing, and the fears arising from their
cruel and relentless mode of warfare, this vast territory of heavy forest
lands was left unsettled at that time, and during the next two decades
it was slow in receiving emigrants, or the States in making the neces-
sary provisions for the protection of those who had braved the dangers
and privations of the wilderness.

The Little Kanawha river, a stream of considerable importance and
magnitude, navigable in high stages of water by small boats, (and now by
slackwater improvements for 40 miles), heads back in the Alleghany
Mountains, and running in a northwesterly direction, passes through
this territory and empties into the Ohio river at Parkersburg, about
midway between Wheeling and Point Pleasant. The borders of this
river with its numerous tributaries, are lined with lands well adapted to
the husbandman and farmer for developing improvements and prosper-
ity. Beneath its valleys and mountain forests of very heavy timber are
hidden rich beds of untold wealth, while the surface is divided by numer-
ous streams of water and water-power, for mills and machinery, murmur-
ing their musiein shady solitudes. Yet with all these primeval advantages,
so richly and lavishly bestowed by nature, owing to their savage sur-
roundings and threatening dangers, it secured but few, a very few, set-

18

SETTLEMENTS — ITS.'. TO IT 0:>.

tiers until about the year 1785. In 1780 and 1705 the bold and daring
enterprise of pioneers became more frequent, tempting them to penetrate
these unbroken solitudes for the purpose of opening up and making their
future homes. They have long since passed away, and but a few only have
left any record of themselves and of their times behind them.

Before closing this chapter we will turn back to the battle of Point
Pleasant. Soon after that battle, as we have stated, a treat}' of peace
was concluded between the great Indian warrior and statesman, Corn-
stalk, and Governor Punmore, of Virginia, in October 1774.

This treaty of peace was strictly and faithfnlly observed by this mon-
arch of the Shawnee Nation. Ilis sagacious mind saw no prosperity
and happiness for his nation only on their living on terms of amity and
peace with the white inhabitants of these colonies. In his defeat and
sorrow he had found that the Indian could not cope with the white man
on the battle-field. And though Great Britain had her agents and em-
issaries among his tribes, endeavoring to enlist them and form alliances
up to the spring of 1777, yet by his great influence and power he had
kept his tribes in peace.

In the spring of i.777 this great chief and monarch of that Nation,
with two others of his tribe, came to the fort at Point Pleasant for the
purpose of making the authorities of’Virginia acquainted with the ef-
forts then being made among his tribes to enlist them against the colo-
nies. This condition of mind in him undoubtedly grew out of the fact
in some way connected with the treaty made with Governor Dunmore
in 1774. • lie and those with him were detained at the fort as hostages
until the information brought by them could be conveyed to the Govern-
ment of Va. In consequence of the long absence from bis tribe, his son
Eilinipsico, a chief of one of his tribes, came to Point Pleasant to ascer-
tain the cause of his long stay. On the following day after his arrival,
two of the soldiers of the garrison crossed over the Big Kanawha on a
hunting expedition, and while thus engaged one of these men was shot
and murdered by some wandering Indian. Of the presence or who these
wandering Indians were, Eilinipsico declared he had no knowledge and
was in no way connected with them. In that hour of tumult, of fren-
zied passions, the soldiers of the garrison determined that they would at
once avenge the death of their companion by shooting the great chief
and son and those with them

In that sad hour of revengful hatred, of danger and of death, the un-
daunted courage, coolness and greatness of this warrior chieftain did not
forsake him. In h -ence he faced the sentence of death boldly

and endeavored to sust .. id cheer his son by words of kindness and
sympathy. Facing the mob whose leaden missiles were pointed at him,
without a word he fell pierced with many balls. Thus ended the career
of this, one of the noblest of the Indian chieftains ; one whose oratory
had made classic the eloquence of nature, one whose boldness and he-
roic bearing on the battle-field was the pride and glory of the Shawnee

corxstalic’s death.

19

Nation, and whose tragic death was the signal of gloom and horror to
the settlements in Virginia and elsewhere.

This overt act of treachery, arising from a sudden and momentary pas-
sion, prompted and immediately executed under a spirit of inconsiderate
revenge upon these innocent persons, then held in custody as hostages
for the safety of others, was an unpardonable indiscretion — an act of
bad faith, which even civilized nations would not overlook or fail to pun-
ish. As it might have been justly expected it served to incite all the In-
dian tribes of the northwestern territory in deadly hostility and war
against the white settlements of the colonies, which lasted not only du-
ring the Revolutionary War, but long after that sanguinary struggle was
ended with the British Government. The thinly and exposed position
of the whole country in Virginia, west of the Alleghany Mountains,
made its slopes and valleys the theatre of savage vengeance and deeds
of untold sufferings. In consequence of this heart-sickening and cruel
war, and the exposed condition of these irontier settlements, this whole
vast territory of Western and Northwestern Virginia was slow in be-
coming settled. Many were the thrilling tales of adventure and heroic
daring here enacted by these early pioneers, who sought to make homes
for themselves and their families. Not until near the year 1800 did the
thinly inhabited settlements of the Ohio river and its tributaries feel that
they were free and safe from savage revenge. Yet there were those-
whose limited means and love of adventure caused them to seek homes
and settle in these forest wilds.

As a general rule these courageous and hardy men were persons of
the most generous impulses. Though many of them were uneducated,
and possessed a rough exterior, yet they possessed hearts of generosity,
and enjoyed happiness in sympathizing and making those happy around
them. The hoarding of the “almighty dollar’' was not the object of
their ambition and love. In their daily intercourse they were social,
kind and generous, imparting or bestowing their hospitalities with cheer-
fulness. They were kind, generous and considerate to those around
them and thereby enjoyed happiness in the happiness of others. They
were kind for kindness sake.

The huntsmans camp, and the rude log cabins of the pioneers, with
their few articles of rough furniture, were the abodes of genuine good feel-
ings, and honest open handed hospitality. "A common sympathy was
felt and shared by neighbors, in the social amities of life. Toils, priva-
tions, and common dangers endured, became a strong bond of attach-
ment, mutual kindness od will. It vras thus, in the opening and

early settlements ot the .tain fastnesses of West Virginia. A new

era — a new world is openeu out before the present generation, begotten
by the rapid advancements in the arts and sciences, and the manner in
which they were communicated. Owing to these courses, the present
generation can form but an imperfect idea of the hardships and dangers,
endured and overcome by the first inhabitants of Western Virginia.

cha.ifvisir, iv.

POLICY oy YES COLONY AS YO HSR PUBLIC LANIS.

In preparing these Cliapters on Western, and North Western Vir-
ginia, for the purpose of enabling the reader, to form clear and cor-
rect ideas of its early history, we devote each chapter, to certain facts
in that history, as those facts were connected with, and had an in-
fluence in shaping the formation of these settlements. All of these
separate and distinct facts, we desire to photograph upon the mind
of the reader, for the purpose of enabling him to see, and have cor-
rect conceptions of the numerous obstacles, which had a tendency to
cripple and retard its rapid settlements, during the latter part of the
eighteenth, and the lirst part ot the present century.

In former cliapters, we presented a general outline of its territory
with its divisions and subdivisions into counties, as its settlements •
from time to time, made it necessary. Pursuing the same course, in
this chapter, wc shall notice the policy of the colony in surveying out
its public lands.

It must be remembered, that the colony of Virginia, was under the
laws, and dependant on the English government. Large grants of
land had been made to many of her nobility, for the purpose of col-
onizing her i>oorer classes, and furnishing them with homes in this
New World, under the same policy, which had obtained under her
home regulations. Hence the actual tillers of the soil, were poor,
and the policy pursued by the House of Burgesses, was shaped by the
English government in the grants and surveys of her public lands.

Thus it will be seen, that the landed policy of the colony, was
forced upon her by the Mother country, and owing to the dangers
growing out of the hostile character of the Indians^ and the limned

■

SURVEYS OF LANDS.

21

i

i ’

>

resources of her territory, the same general policy was continued; es-
pecially was this the condition of the colony it the close of the Revo-
lutionary war.

A person who will reflect upon the condition of this country, at,
and prior to that war — the hostile attitude of the Indians, who had
been in alliance, iirst, with the French, and then with the English
government, will at once see tlm nature and character of these diffi-
culties, and the enforced reasons which caused Virginia, as a State,
to pursue the landed policy which laid been entailed upon her, by
Great Britain.

Therefore, in this Chapter, we shall treat of the surveys of lands,
made in Western and North W estern Virginia, as the same arise un-
der that policy, and the effects thereof upon ie future settlements of
this portion of the State. Yet in doing so, we do not intend to cast
any reflections upon the men of those colonial years, who labored to
perform their duties under the embarrassing circumstances of those
times.

It is a well known fact throughout the entire country, that the ti-
tles to lands in Western, and North Western Virginia are uncertain
and unsatisfactory. Courts of justice within its territory have had
their dockets crowded with suits in which these titles have been the
subject of litigation for the purpose of settling these conflicting claims.
The doubts and insecurity of these titles has had a very damaging in-
fluence upon the settlements as well as upon the business enterprise
of the country. And yet these difficulties are not all settled. Suits
for settling the title to lands in the State, are yet upon the dockets of
our courts. Soon, however, these claims will be finally settled.

The first survey made ot land in the Ohio valley, of which we
have any record, was those made tor Gen. Gorge Washington, in the
summer of 1771, for services rendered the colony, ot Virginia, as col-
onel during the French and Indian war. These surveys for him
were made in that summer under his personal supervision, by Col.
"William Crawford (who was afterwards captured by the Indians and
burnt at a stake in 1703.) The first ot these entries and surveys was
a tract of 2314 acres of land situated five miles below the mouth of the
Little Kanawha, river in this county, and made in June, 1771. This
county was then a part of the District of West Augusta. Several oth-
er surveys were made by him on the Ohio and the Big Ivauawha
rivers, during that summer, and were claimed to be the first made in
tiiis valley, under the authority of the colony of Virginia,

In the spring of 1771, Col. Geo. Washington with his surveying
party embarked in small boats at Fort Pitt, and slowly descended the
Ohio river, making notes of their journey and of the country as they
passed down the river to the mouth of the Big Kanawha, and also in
their ascending that river to the falls. A full account of this voyage
was published some years since in Eastern newspapers, and was macle

J

22 gen. Washington's surveys.

very interesting, ns showing the condition of the conn try at that time.

The tract of 2814 acres in this county, surveyed and patented to
him, lias, since that time, been known by the name of “Washington
Bottom.” .It is a line body of land situated, in a bend of the Ohio,
immediately below Blannerhasaett’s Island. It was first settled in
the fall ot i80G, by emigrants from London county, Va. No portion
of our county was first settled by more noble, generous and worthy
citizens, than Washington Bottom. They brought with them their
oid Virginia bearing and hospitality, and a most cordial welcome was
given to those who visited that portion of our country. The early
settlement of “Washington Bottom’’ and sketches of its citizens and
families is reserved for a future Chapter in this series.

It will be noticed by the reader that General Washington in 1771
became a large land holder i he District of West Augusta, and dur-
ing the Indian war he bad b nine acquainted with the character of
the early pioneers of Wester -, and North Western Virginia. Proba-
bly it was owing to these facts that during the dark days of the Rev-
olution, when the liberties and independence ot these States trembled
in the balance of social, political and religious freedom, that caused
him to look to the District of West Augusta, as Ids place of retreat, in
the event of a failure of the American cause : and from here he would
maintain the struggle and continue the war for national independ-
ence. During the French war he had become acquainted with these
men, and could rclv upon them as aiding and sustaining him in the
cause of freedom against the government of Great Britain. Gen.
Washington in early life formed a very correct idea of the importance
ot the Western country and of the necessity of having inland commu-
nications with the Eastern portion of the State. Other-large grants
and surveys were made about the same time. One opposite Parkers-
burg, of 28,000 acres was made to Van Strobo and others, for military
services.

For the purpose of increasing emigration and turnishinghomes on
a cheap scale to the young, adventurous and enterprising yeomanry
of those early years in Virginia’s history, and to cause them to colonize
and settle upon, her trans-alleghuny domain — her wide spread wilder-
ness territory, the House of Burgesses, by colonial enactments and
laws, presented and gave to the actual settlers of these lands, great
inducements. Among the laws thus enacted, was that of a settle-
ment right and preemption claim. This legislative enactment or col-
onial law secured to the individuals, who might take up, occupy,
clear and cultivate a few acres of land and erect a cabin thereon, a
patent for 400 acres ot land around and including the improve--
ment, with the further right of preempting by entry or treasury war-
rant, 1000 acres adjoining the said settlement right of 400 acres,
within a specific limited time. There were many persons who made
ctiorts to avail themselves of the liberal provisions of these laws of

SETTLEMENTS, RIGHTS, iC.

23

colonial legislation, but owing to the trouble arising from, predatory
bunds of Indians, then infesting the country, many of these settlers
abandoned their claims thus made. Vet under the provisions of these
laws a few settlements were successfully made in Western, and North-
western Virginia, while it was embraced in the District of West Augusta,
prior to the year 1776. Also like settlements were made between the
years 1776 and 1781, when it was included in the counties of Monon-
galia and Ohio, and also, when this valley was included in Harrison
county', between the years 1784 and 1799, when this (Wood) county
was formed, like settlements were made.

The first actual settlements made in the valley of the Ohio, and
in this county, were made under the provisions of these settlement rights
and preemption laws of the commonwealth. And further we may add,
that it was under the provisions of these laws, arose what was once gen-
erally known in this country as the “Tomahawk,” right or title. A
Tomahawk claim or right was generally made by selecting some prom-
inent place or situation, and making a deadening of the growing timber,
and marking his name and date of his claim on prominent trees, as bis
entry. By this mode of proceeding he gave notice to all land adventur-
ers of his settlement right to 400 acres and pre-emption claim, to 1000
acres of land surrounding the deadening thus made, and the rights claim-
ed thereby. The first settlers in this country recognized these Toma-
hawk entries, and the rights growing out of them, and they were fre-
quently sold and transferred to persons who afterwards settled upon them
and perfected a title.

From the year 1769 the date of the treaty of pence with the Indians,
under Governer Dunmore, of Virginia, to the year 1795, the date of
the treaty of peace made after the victories of General Anthony’ Wayne
over the Indians inhabiting the Northwestern territory, there were in^this
vast wilderness territory, but a few inhabitants, scattered in settlements
far apart from each other, who had here secured homes. Yet this wide
wildernes domain invited the enterprise of land speculators from the
Eastern and Northern states. These speculators procured from the
Land Office of Virginia, at a nominal price, land warrants for large en-
tries and tracts of land, to be located in this unbroken forest wilderness.
A large proportion of these entries and surveys were made in this coun-
try, between the years of 1785. after the close of the Revolutionary war,
and 1795, after the close of the Indian war under General Wayne,
During these twelve years, numerous Indian bands, from various tribes,
were on the war path, pa mg through and infesting and carrying on a
sickening war upon these frontier settlements of Western and North-
western Virginia and the Districts of Kentucky. ^

The colony of Virginia had adopted no correct and sure system for
having her wild, unsettled lands surveyed and divided off into sections
of any given quantities, by which persons might and could enter their
land warrants. But instead of pursuing such a ssyjem, her policy was

24

SURVEYS OF LANDS.

to let the owner of a laml warrant locate anil make his own entry and
survey wherever he chose, leaving the rights to the land thus acquired
by the landholder subject to the rights ot any prior claim or patent.

Under this policy distant land speculators or land companies procured
their land warrants for a definite number of acres. The number of acres
named in these warrants, the holdor of them entered, independent of oth-
ers, who may have entered lands or without any correct knowledge of
the lands he was entering.

Owing to the many dangers, arising froi predatory bands of Indians
then infesting this wilderness and lurking ;n ambush to wreak their ven-
geance, only a few surveys of these wild lands were made at , the time of
their being entered.

The course most generally pursued by the surveyor in those years was,
to select some very noted or prominent point and mark a beginning cor-
ner, and run and mark the line for some little distance, and then in his
camp protract a chain of surveys many times, not even knowing where
they might end, leaving the entire chain of surveys dependent upon the
first survey and beginning corner. In after years when these protract-
ed surveys were run out, the lines would be found to cross the Ohio river'
or would frequently intercept and cross the lines of other surveys, so
that in some instances the lands would be covered by two or three dif-
ferent patents, bearing different dates. This insecure and equivocal pol-
icy, adopted when Virginia was a colony under the British Government,
has caused immense trouble in the land titles of Western and Northwest-
ern Virginia. These troubles arc not all yet ended. In past years they
have hindered and retarded its settlements by the uncertainty connected
with her land titles, causing many to leave or pass by and seek homes in
the far West, where a more safe policy obtained.

Chapter upon chapter might be written in reviewing the past history
of the early settlements of Western Virginia, thereby disclosing many
of the causes and considerations which acted as hindrances to the growth
and population in all the essential elements of material wealth. Among
these might be noticed the fact that the Legislature of the State was
slow to award to her any material aid in the opening up and developing
her resources and advantages. In the early years of her history she
was made to feel her dependei*ce upon the clemency of the Eastern mem-
bers composing that august body of legislation.

This and the preceding chapters will furnish the inquiring mind with
a key which will u ock, open and disclose many of the adverse causes
which in the past as held in check the tides of emigration to her lofty
mountains and beautiful valleys, and the reasons why the development
of her internal wealth was not sooner made. They also furnish the rea-
sons why the prosperity, health and happiness enjoyed by persons in
re mountain air, her mineral waters and invigorating climates were
by.

ner pu
passed

rt> i

RESULTS.

25

But her past history discloses the fact that amid all these adverse con-
' ditions she has held on her way, and though her external wealth and in-
creasing population has not been rapid as compared with many other
States of the Union, yet it has been healthy and advancing. And not-
withstanding all these varied conditions, she can look with pride upon
her native-born citizens and feel that she has contributed her full share
of great men — men whose names brightly adorn the history and fame
of our common country.

In closing this chapter the numerous and health-restoring springs of
mineral water which abound in these mountains should not be lost sight
of. Their reputation is fast becoming world-wide. The invalid i3 made
to rejoice and look forth upon life with renewed hopes. Again, while
closing, we turn and with gladness of heart contemplate her mild and in-
vigorating climate; the salubrious and health-restoring atmosphere ot
her grand, majestic mountains; her picturesque and lovely valleys in all
the splendor of their scenery; all — all conspire to give breadth and
strength to the mind, and force upward the intellectual and moral growth
of character; to energize, expand and elevate the moral perceptions, and
call forth the generous emotions of the heart. The contemplation of the
wild, majestic scenery of these lofty and picturesque mountains, are well
calculated to enlarge and give force and power to thought and strength
of purpose to its inhabitants. Again, the soft, mellow tints of her flushed,
golden sunsets, as they fade into azure loveliness and deepen into the
shades of night, awaken within the soul the purest emotions of grateful
adoration and praise to that infinite Being who has piled up these sub-
lime ranges and overshadowed them with such gaudy vestments. And
yet for years past, this majestic mountain scenery — this “Switzerland
of America ” — has been passed by for the unvarying monotony of the
“plains of the farther West,” where health and happiness have been sac-
rificed.

1

5

!

i

• * i ' . • - 1 ;

CHAPTE3 V.

INDIAN HOSTILITIES.

Among the present inhabitants of Western and Northwestern Virginia
there are but a few, a very few, if any, to be found who know of the fre-
quent alurms, the sufferings and privations, incident upon its early set-
tlements. Even the present frontier life along our far Western border
presents but a faint idea of the many hardships, adventures and tragedies
of the early pioneers into the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. What a
vast and mighty change has come over the world of mankind during the
last one hundred years, especially in our country, under the fostering
care of our republican institutions. The dark, impenetrable forests
which secreted the Indian in his acts of barbarism, cruelty and blood,
have with him faded, and are disappearing like the mist upon the moun-
tains, as the sunlight of civilization and earnestenterprise has gone forth
and opened up the treasures of w ealth in our wide Fpread country, from
ocean to can. The proud and haughty spirit of the bloody ar.d re-
vengeful .. 'dan has been broken, and the years of his dominion are clo-
sing upon the great drama of time. Soot, all the traces of his dark and
bloody empire will have passed away, and the vast realms of hi wilder-
ness home will be lost iu the noontide glory of American greatness.

Wc propose devoting this chapter to giving accounts of these raids
and depredations made by Indians, within the original limits of Wood
county as far as they have come to our knowledge.

After the close of the Revolutionary War in 1783, and the treaty of
peace with the English (iovernment, the war spirit and hostility of the

H.

|

n

i

f

r

* 'i,

i

L-

j'

GEN. HARMAH AND OTHERS — CAPT. CARPENTER.

Indians, who had been in alliance with them, did not cease. From that
time to 1795 small parties of Indians would make raids upon the white
settlements of Western and Northwestern Virginia and Kentucky for
the purpose of ph uler, taking captives and scalps from the victims of
their inhuman barbarity. The treaties made with a few of these North-
western tribes were but of little worth, soon violated on either side, af-
fording and giving no quiet security to the settlements.

Owing to these causes it was not until 1785 that any permanent set-
tlements were made in any part of the territory embraced in the origi-
nal boundaries of Wood county, of which any definite knowledge can be
ascertained at thi6 time. There were, however, in 1783, and prior thereto,
pre-emption rights or tomahawk claims made by Samuel and Joseph
Tomlinson, the three Briscoe brothers, Robert Thornton and othera, in
the rich bottom lands of the Ohio river. But no accounts of any Indian
depredation being made upon any of them have come down to us.

From the year 1785 to 1795, all the tribes of the Northwestern terri-
tory, excepting the Moravians, were engaged in a united war upon the
white settlements of this great valley. Early in the fall of 1791, Gen-
eral Harmar started with an army made up of militia and 300 regular
troops from Fort Washington (now Cincinnati) for the Indian towns in
the Miami and Scioto Valleys, and in two engagements with the Indians
was badly defeated each time. In November following. General Arthur
St. Clair raised an array of about the same number and started from the
same Fort, for the same valleys, but met a very signal defeat and great
loss of life. These successes of the Indians gave them great confidence
of final success and caused them to reject all offers for negotiations for
peace. In December following. General Scott raised a volunteer regi-
ment at Louisville. Ky., and invaded ‘he Miami Valley and defeated the
Indians and recaptured much ->f the army property lost by General St.
Clair, and returned to Kentucky. This expedition inspired the frontier
settlements with hope. ■ '

It was during the year 1790 that the first Indian raids were made
upon this county. In September 1791 a party of Indians crossed the
Ohio river and captured a bright mulatto boy belonging to Capt, James
Neal, of Neal’s Station, named Frank Wycoff, while on their way to
West Fork river (a branch of the Monongahela). But on their way there
they came across the trail made by Capt. Nicholas Car ter, of Harri-
son county, in driving a drove of cattle to Marietta. ' turned their

course and followed the trail, supposing it to be that of c rants. Capt.

Carptfnter, with his son and four persons with him, had crossed Bull creek
with his drove und encamped on a run. On the next morning the In-
dians surprised and made an attack and killed him and his son, and three
of the men with him. Mr. Jesse Hughes, one of the men, by his fleetness
made his escape and returned to Harrison county. The Indians after
scalping those they had killed, returned to where they had tied Frank,
who, whilst they were absent, had released himself and made safe his es-

28

JAS. KELLEY, -MR. WOOD’S SON'S,

cape back to his master. That run has since been known in the county
by the name of Carpenter’s run. Mr. Isaac Williams headed a party
and made pursuit after the Indians, but failed in overtaking them. They
returned and buried the mutilated bodies of Capt. Carpenter and the oth-
ers. They then returned home and made theirdefences against the In-
dians more secure.

During the fall of the year, Mr. James- Ivelley, who, with his family
resided at Belleville, on the Ohio river, in this county, eighteen miles
below Parkersburg, while out at work was surprised, shot and scalped
by a party of Indians on their return home. His oldest son, Joseph, who
was with him, then six years old, was captured and taken off by them to
a Shawnee village in Ohio, where he remained until after the treaty of
peace at Greenville in 1795, when he was surrendered to Cora. R. J.
Meigs, and returned to his widowed mother, then residing at Marietta.
He had been adopted by an aged Indian warrior (who had lost his five
sons in battles), named Merhalenm, arid received great kindness at his
hands; and indeed he had become so much attached to his foster Indian
father that he parted with him in sorrow. Mr. Kelley finally settled and
married in Marietta, raised a large and respectable family of children,
and died there some years since, respected and beloved for his many vir-
tues. In other years we have heard him speak of the kindness mani-
fested for him by his Indian father, and the painful regrets he had when
he parted with him and his Indian friends.

Sometime during the summer of 1790 a party of Indians crossed the
Ohio river below Parkersbnrg, for the purpose of destroying Neal’s Sta-
tion and capturing Capt. Jas. Neal. They had secreted themselves in
ambush a short distance up a run from the station for the purpose of as-
certaining its strength. While thus secreted, two boys of Mr. Wood,
aged twelve and fifteen years, were sent out in the evening to hunt the
cows, came upon the Indians, who at onee seized and tomahawked them.
Their screams were heard by Mrs. Neal at the Station. The Indians
fearing the alarm thus made, scalped the boys and then left, thus aban-
doning their attack upon Mr. Neal and the force at the Station.

In the fall of 1792 Mr. Daniel Rowell, a son-in-law of Capt. James
Neal, and his son Henry Neal, and a Mr. Triplett, left Neal’s station
and ascended the Little Kanawha river in a canoe, some forty miles, to
the mouth of Burning Springs iun, now in Wirt county, on a hunting
excursion. On the evening of their landing they built a camp, while Mr.
Rowell took off the lock of his gun to examine the spring. Just at that
time they heard what they supposed to be the clucking ol wild turkeys
on the opposite or South shore of the river. Thinking of the fine repast
a good turkey would make for a supper, they sprung into their canoo,
Mr. Neal and Mr. Triplett standing, and Mr. Rowell seated in the stern,
working and steering the canoe across the river. As it struck the
shore they were fired upon by the Indians in ambush, and Mr. Neal and
Triplett fell dead into the river. Mr. Rowell sprang over the stern

IIENRT NEAL & MR. TRIPLETT AND PARCHMENT.

29

of the canoe with his gun in his hand and swam back to the northern
shore, while a shower of bullets fell around him but failed to do execu-
tion. On reaching the shore he saw that the Indians were pursuing him
in the canoe, and to facilitate his escape hid his gun (as he always said)
under a red oak log in Burning Spring run. From thence he passed
out a short distance from the river, through alow gap, and the better to
elude his pursuers, changed his course and recrossed the river a few
miles below where they had been surprised, and returned to the station.
Here he raised a party and returned and pursued the Indians. But so
much time had intervened that the pursuit was unavailing, the Indians
having made good their escape. The bodies of Mr. Neal and Mr. Trip-
lett were found in the river, unscalped, and were interred, the Indians
having failed to find them.

The probabilities are, that this party ot hunters had been discovered
by the Indians while ascending the river, and were decoyed from their
camp by the Indians imitating the cry of the wild turkey. It has also
been supposed that this was the same party of Indians that were killed
soon after at Wheeling, as they took a course in that direction.

Mr. Daniel Rowell, with his family, moved from here many years ago
and settled in the West. lie, however, died at the residence of his son,
Dr. Neal ltowell, in Florence, Alabama, in 1851, aged 93 years.

In 1858 the gun was found at the place where it had been hid, in a
state of preservation, so as to be identified; although it had been sixty-
seven years, and the remains of the red oak tree were then to be seen.
The muzzle of the gun had become fast in a young dogwood, about six
inches above the ground. The barrel, trigger, guard, thimble and brass
cover, with the words Liberty or Death” engraved upon it, were for-
warded to Dr. Neal Rowell, his son, then residing in Florence, Alabama,
in 1859.

After the occurrence of this mournful tragedy in our county, great
vigilance was used by the few inhabitants during the remainder of the
Indian War to its close in 1795.

Mr. Jacob Parchment, a young man, left the garrison at Belleville in
the fall of 1790, to hunt deer on the South Branch of Lee creek, about a
mile back of the station, was shot and scalped by a party of nine Indians.
Mr. John Coleman was within a short distance of him when it occurred,
but owing to the number of Indians was unable to render any assistance
to his comrade. This was the first death by the Indians which had oc-
curred to the inhabitants of this settlement, and had a tendency to cast
a deep gloom over them, causing them to exercise great caution in all
their future movements and operations.

Late in the spring of 1792, Mr. Stephen Sherrod, who had left the
Harrrison, at Belleville, and after feeding his hogs had gone to the woods
to cut an oxgad, was surprised and captured by a party of ten Indians
and taken off a prisoner. His wife, a bold and courageous woman, had
left the garrison soon after to milk the cow, a short distance oft) wa9

.

.

30

MR. SHERROD — MR. COLEMAN.

seized by two of the Indians, who intended to make her a prison^ .' also.
She, however, resisted them with so much force, and screamed so loudly,
that one of the Indians knocked her down, while the other proceeded to
take her scalp. IIe,r screams brought Mr. Peter Anderson from the garri-
son, who shot the Indian and wounded him in the arm, causing them hastily
to retreat. M rs. Sherrod was senseless for a long time from the stun-
ning blow of the tomahawk, which had gashed her head in a shocking
manner. Mr. Joshua Dewey immediately, proceeded to Marietta, Ohio,
a distance of thirty miles, in a light canoe, for a physician, lie made this
trip in about forty hours and returned with Dr. Jabez True, who suc-
ceeded in her recovery.

The garrison at this time contained but five men, and it was consid
ered unsafe to pursue this party of Indians. Tm.y crossed the Ohio on
a raft, with Mr. Sherrod as prisoner, at the narrows above Belleville bot-
tom, and took up the valley of the Big Hocking. They bound Mr. Sher-
rod’s hands securely behind him with thongs of bear skin, and in this
manner he was hurried on until night, five of the Indians marching be-
fore him and five behind. While on their way they informed him that
they had killed an old woman at the garrison. At night they made him,
with his hands tied behind him, lie down on his back while they cut slen-
der saplings and laid them across him from his head to his feet. On the
ends of these the Indians spread blapkets and laid down to sleep. As
soon as Mr. Sherrod discovered that they were all asleep, by their heavy
breathing, he quietly released his hands and slowly worked himself from
under the saplings, and took down the valley of the river. He soon en-
tered it, and by wading and swimming passed down a considerable dis-
tance, and came out on the opposite shore. lie pursued his way to the
Ohio, and early the next morning he hailed the garrison, who at once
went to his rescue in a boat. He at once learned the sad condition of
bis wife, yet in time was enabled to rejoice in her discovery.

Mr. Sherrod was a native of New Hampshire, and in early life had re-
moved to the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania. While there he had
become well acquainted with the Indian mode of warfare, and was re-
garded as an excellent frontiersman. After the treaty of peace of 1795,
he, with his family, removed to the Mississippi Valley.

For the purpose of procuring a supply of meat in the month of Feb-
ruary, 1793, a party left the garrison at Belleville on a hunting expedi-
tion. Toe party was composed of Mr. Malcomb Coleman and his sou
John Coleman, Elijah Pixley and James Ryan, They descended the
Ohio in a pirogue to the mouth of Mill creek (now in Jackson county),
and ascended that creek about four miles. Here they built a comforta-
ble camp, to which they retreated at night after spending the day in hunt-
ing. Here Mr. Colemar. and his party passed several days very pleas-
antly, meeting with success, filling their pirogue with venison and bear
meat. The weather, which had been fine, set in cold, with a light fall
of 6now. During this time the water in Mill creek had fallen so as to

MR. MALCO.MB COLEMAN.

31

prevent them getting back their craft over a fall, above which they were
lying. While in this condition, John Coleman and Elijah Pixley re-
turned to the garrison for flour and salt. The third morning after their
departure, Mr. Malcomb Coleman rose very early and prepared their
breakfast, anxiously expecting their return. While invoking a blessing
on their simple meal, the sharp crack of a rifle was heard, and a shot
passed through his shoulder. So little fear had he of the Indians,
that he said: “Can John have returned and shot me by Jdent?”
Before he could learn the fact a second shot passed throu, a his head
and he fell dead by the side of his companion. Mr. Janies Ryan made
his escape from the Indians and regained the garrison. On the day
that Mr. Coleman was murdered, Mr. Joshua Dewey made a visit to
the camp for the purpose of seeing his friends, but to his horror he
found his old friend murdered, scalped, stripped of his clothing, and
the camp plundered. He was the first to reach the garrison at Belle-
ville and give the painful intelligence. At once a party of seven men
left the garrison and descended the Ohio in a canoe, for the camp on
Mill creek, but the Indians had taken the pirogue and its load with
the camp equipage and made safe their retreat. After interring Mr.
Coleman at that place they returned. This calamity was severely felt
and spread a deep gloom over the entire settlement. lie had been
long regarded as a patriarch in the community, blending the gaaces
of the Christian with the fulfillment of all the active duties of life.
Many of his descendants reside in the lower part of this and Jackson
county. The Kev. II. R. Coleman, of the Kentucky Conference of the
M. E. Church, South, is one of his great-grandsons and a worthy rep-
resentative of this heroic family.

Mr. Peter Anderson, of whom we have spoken, married one of his
daughters and became the head of a large family of children, and
many of his descendants still reside in that vicinity. Mr. Anderson
was born near Cumberland, Md., in 1757. In his early youth his pa-
rents removed over the mountains and settled near West Liberty on
Buffalo creek in this State. At the age of twenty-nine he aud his
brother Andrew settled at Belleville, where he resided until his death
in 1838. His generous bearing and social qualities, combined with
his superior judgment, caused him to occupy a prominent place in
that community. Soon alter the formation of Wood couuty, he was
commissioned, 4th May, 1801, and filled the office of Justice of the
Peace acceptably, uutil his great age caused him to resign.

In the summer of 1791 a small garrison of Virginia troops were
stationed at Belleville and another one at Parkersburg, under the di-
rection of Col. Clendenen. These two garrisons of troops were de-
signed for the protection of these frontier settlements, and check the
raids of Indians from the Northwestern territory, who at that time
were committing r\auv depredations on these frontiers, aud in the
back settlements of Virginia. We have no means at hand to as-

32

MOSES HEWETT.

certain the number of men pent to either of these garrisons, nor are
we in possession of the results of their operations. Wo have stated
the fact of their being here with the hope thatsomeone else will fur-
nish further information.

Some time in the month of May, 1792, while living at Neal’s Sta-
tion, on the Kanawha river, Mr. Hewett rose early in the morning
and went out of the garrison in search of a stray horse, little expect-
ing Indians to be near, as none bad been in the vicinity for some time.
When sauntering along at bis ease in an obscure cattle path, about a
mile from the station, all at once three Indians sprang upon him from
a large tree with their tomahawks raised. So sudden had beeu the
onset, and so completely was he in their grasp, that resistance was
vain, and probably would have cost him his life. He therefore quietly
surrendered, thinking that in a tew days he would find some means
of escape. The Indians immediately made their retreat for their towns
in Ohio, crossing the Ohio river below Belleville to the dividing ridges
between Hocking and Shade rivers. On their way the Indians treat-
ed their prisoner with as little harshness as could he expected, sharing
with him in their daily meals! After they had reached a place ot
comparative safety from pursuit, near their villages, they made a halt
to hunt and left their prisoner at their camp, having placed him on
his hack, confining his wrists with stout thongs of raw hide to sap-
lings, and his legs raised at a considerable elevation and fastened to a
small tree. After they had been gone a short time, by his great
strength he released himself from their confinement, took the two
small pieces of venison then in the camp for his supply of food, and
without any weapons he started for the Big Muskingum settlement.
The Indians pursued him, hut he evaded their search, and after nine
days of wandering he came to the garrison of Wolf creek mills on
the Big Muskingum river, nearly naked and famished. He soon re-
covered his strength and retu rued to his family.

About the year 1797, he, with his family, removed from this county
and settled in the valley of Big Hocking, Ohio, near the town of Ath-
ens, where he became a valuable and useful citizen, respected for his
moral worth and good practical judgment. He was elected to aud
filled the office of trustee in the College of Athens with ability. .For
many ) rs he was a member of the M. E. Church and zealous in the
dischar ge of Christian duties. He there ended his days in 1814, aged
47 years. His widow died at that place on the 15th of September,
1834, aged 70 years, 7 months and 7 days.

The nine children horn to them, we understand, are all dead. Of
their descendants, we are wholly uninformed. Thus it is many times
that tho descendants of a generation are lost in the onward course of
time.

In the spring ot 1794 a party of Indians surprised the family of Mr.
Armstrong, residing in the narrows opposite to the head ot Bleuner-

AH MS THONG, CAPT. JAMES NEAL.

33

hassett Islam], ti cn known as Backus Island, in this county. Mr.
Armstrong and his wife and two children were murdered and scalped
and three of the children were carried away prisoners. What be-
came of them we have never been able to ascertain. The attack upon
this family and the bloody tragedy attending the same was the last
of the Indian depredations in this county of which we have any cor-
rect knowledge. Yet during the Indian war upon the frontier settle-
ments, man)r tragic scenes of cruelty and suffering were enacted, of
which no accounts have been given so as to iix with certainty the
names of the sufferers or the dates of their Occurrence.

In closing this chapter we would state that much lias been omitted,
owing to not having proper data tor the statements to rest upon as
tacts. .

Before any permanent settlements were made in this county, or in the
territor\* which composed it, Capt. James Neal, with a party of men,
descended the Monongahela and Ohio rivers in the fall of 1785, to
the Little Kanawha river. Their purpose when starting was to go to
Kentucky. But having landed on the south side of the Little Ka-
nawha, about a mile from its mouth, and likeing its location, they con-
cluded to encamp there. During the winter of 1785 and 1786 they
erected a block house, which was afterwards known in the history of
this county as Neal's Station. This was the tirst block-house aud sta-
tion built in this county. Between that date and 1796soveral block-
houses were built in this county, as well as on the opposite side of
the Ohio river in the county of Washington. These houses became
the place of rendezvous of the few inhabitants who had settled here,
while the Indian war was carried on, up to the year 1795, when the
treaty of peace was made at Greenville, Ohio, after the victories of
General Wayne.

As intimately connected with and forming a starting point in the
history of the first settlement made in this county, hetore its organi-
zation, we will here state that Capt. James Neal, as a deputy survey-
or of Samuel Hanway, the surveyor of Monongalia county, in the
spring ot 1783, surveyed the settlement right and pre-emption claim
of Mr. Alexander Parker, of Pittsburg, Pa., assignee of Mr. Robert
Thornton, to the land on which the city of Parkersburg is now loca-
ted, as also other settlement rights within the boundaries ot this coun-
ty. Being thus acquainted with the surveys and titles to the lauds
on the northeast side of the Little Kanawha river, is probably the
reason why he afterward tnade his settlement and erected his block-
house and station on the south side of the river, as above stated.

In the preceding chapters of these historic sketches we took the
reader far back in the eighteenth century, to the House of Burgesses
and its colonial records, at the city ot Williamsburg, Va., in the year
1738 — the time when, in answer to the wantsand demands of the peo-
ple, the counties of Augusta and Frederick were set off and formed,

34

BRIEF REVIEW.

from its vast wilderness territory, and theresidueof that vast western
wilderness territory was declared to be the “District of West Augus-
ta.” Then, briefly, we sketched the slow progress of settlements west-
ward, amid dangers, privations and sufferings, as the years passed on;
with the divisions and sub-divisions of this vast wilderness into coun-
ties, up, through and over the Allegheny Mountains, and down their
western slopes, to the waters leading to the great Mississippi Valley,
as the unfolding necessities of those years demanded. Also we briefly
reviewed the trouble arising from the claims of the European Govern-
ments in this country, and the policy pursued by them for maintain-
ing their rights ot discovery, by alliances made with the Indians in-
habiting the then vast wilderness; together with the policy adopted by
the House of Burgesses, under colouial representatives, in settling and
surveying these heavy, dense forests of her western domaiu.

Our object being to group iu the mind of the reader the slow pro-
gress made, the many dangers, difficulties, privations and sufferings
endured by those bold, hardy aud enterprising pioneers ot the eight-
eenth century, who penetrated and passed these mountain fastnesses
aud made homes tor themselves and their posterity in the wilds of
this great inland world, kuown as the District of West Augusta.

Having thus presented this bird’s-eye view, and the many troubles
interwoven along the pathway, we now come to the first individual
settlers and settlements in this, which, years afterwards, became Wood
county. To go back and get the names of many of the first settlers
in what is now Wood county aud the exact dates of their settlements,
isa.task which cannot now he fully accomplished. Even those whose
names and posterities have come down to us, it will bo a difficult un-
dertaking to be exact and do them full justice. They have long since
passed from earth away to that undiscovered bourne, their history un-
written, and the daily struggles through which they passed, to remain
untold. These difficulties are further enhanced by the fact that the de-
scendants of these early pioneers, to a great extent, have lost the dates
and the traditionary traces of their progenitors, which go back to those
distant years, in the history of our county or its first settlements. In
addition to these difficulties we may also'add that many of the first settlers
have passed away, leaving no descendants to perpetuate their names, or
chronicle the events in their earthly pilgrimage. The stirring events in
in their lives, with their sympaties and cherished hopes are gone to the
dark shades of forgetfulness.

1437770

CPIAPTEE, VI.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

While engaged in revising these sketches and reviewing the brief out-
line pages of our history, with many of the names of friends of other
years, we have felt how unreal are .the remembrances of earth. The
ever-present is fading and forever disappearing in the past, and the past
is soon buried and forgotten in the charnel-house of oblivion — the dream-
less abode of the untold and unnumbered myriads of earth; those whose
days have been spent, and whose active energies no longer appear upon
the theatre of time, but have passed beyond its curtains to the shoreless
unknown.

Owing to these circumstances and considerations, our best efforts to
make up and present a history of those early years of the settlements
here made, and give faithful mementoe of those ho broke through tho
barriers of the wilderness and opened e homes • themselves, and as-
sisted in the formation of settlements, v . of nee, ity be imperfect and
may in some cases subject the writer to errors. These deficiencies and
errors will most cheerfully and readily be corrected when pointed out.

Again, in speaking of, and referring to those early settlers and the me-
mentoes we may give of them, dates will not always follow in chronolog-
ical order. We shall speak of them generally as associated together in
neighborhoods, thus passing from point to point in these early settle-
ments, made from time to time. The original boundaries of Wood county
being very large at .the time of its first formation, in 1800, and remained
so for upwards of thirty years, causing us in these chapters to speak of
those whose residences are now outside of our present county bounda-
ries, though during their lives they were included in and were citizens of
this county. The present inhabitants of this county, many of them,
have but a limited idea of the territory once embraced in Wood county.

'

36

THE FAMILY OF CAPT. NEAL.

There wero no permanent settlements made in what was or now is
Wood county while the same was embraced in and formed a part of Mo-
nongalia county, though in those years several “tomahawk” rights were
made and entered. The persons making “tomahawk” claims were gen-
erally hunters and_ trappers, and generally sold their claims or tomahawk
titles. After the devision of Monongalia county and the formation of
Harrison (named after Benjamin Harrison, then Governor of Virginia),
out of its northwestern portion, numerous entries and settlement vrerp
made on the Ohio river.

From the Lest information we have been able to obtain of the first set-
tler in the county is that of Capt. .James Neal. He had been a citizen of
Green county, in that portion of Pennsylvania which had been supposed
to belong to the colony of Virginia. Capt. Neal had served his country
faithfully during the War of the Revolution, as a captain, and had re-
ceived an honorable discharge from the Continental army, and had been
paid for his services in the Continental currency of those times and re-
turned to his home in Greene county.

The first knowledge we have of Capt James Neal being in any portion
of this county is in the spring of 1783, when, as a deputy-surveyor for
Samuel Ilan way, surve3’or of the county of Monongalia (which at that
time included all the. territory of this county), he surveyed for Alexan-
der Parker, Esq., of Pittsburgh, the “tomahawk” entry and pre-emption
right, made by Mr. Robert Thornton, which had been sold and assigned
to said Parker, of the lands on which the present city of Parkersburg is
now situated. This “tomahawk” entry was made by Mr. Robert Thorn-
ton in 1773, while the territory of this county formed part of the District
of West Augusta. (A more full account of this entry, &c., will be given
in a future chapter on Parkersburg).

In relation to Capt. James Neal, we are informed by bis descendants
that he was of Irish descent, aDd that the original name was O’Neal. At
the commencement ot the Revolutionary War, for reasons satisfactory
to himself, he dropped the 0 from his name, and ever after wrote his
name and was known as James Neal.

Capt. James Neal finding himself, as others who had served their coun-
try in that day, comparatively poor, and being a man of great energy of
character, he, for the purpose of bettering his condition, in the fall of
1785, with a party of men, left that county for the purpose of looking
out and securing a home in the State of Kentucky. In a flat-boat he
and his party descended the Monongahela and Ohio rivers to the mouth
of the Little Kanawha, and ascended that river a short distance and
landed on the south side of that stream. lie hero encamped and exam
ined the country around, and being well satisfied, concluded to make it
his future homo. During that fall (1785), he and his party erected a
block-house, which was afterwards known in the history of Western Vir-
ginia by the name of Neal’s Station. For many years thereafter, this
station became an important place of safety from the raids of the I-u-

THEIR SETTLEMENT,

37

dians while on their predatory war-paths against the settlements of West-
ern and Northwestern Virginia. Here the early settlers to this county,
during the Indian War, recreated and took up their residence and dwelt
in safety, while the traveler, passing through or visiting the county,
sought it also as a place of safety and protection. Afcer clearing some
land and miking other necessary improvements at the station, he, in the
spring of 1786, returned to Green county, in Pennsylvania.

For the purpose of giving tiie reader a clear idea of Capt. James Neal
and his family, we shall here insert a portion of his private history. Early
in the winter of 1781-5 (before his coming to this county as stated above)
soon after the birth of his youngest son, the late James II. Neal of this
county, Capt. Neal was made to mourn the death of his excellent wife.
Iler maiden name was Hannah Harden (a .sister of the late Col. John
Harden of Kentucky, who lost his life by the treachery of the Indians,
while engaged as a Commisssioner of the United States Government in
negotiating a treaty of peace with them). By this marriage he was the
parent of six children, three sons and three daughters. The names of
his sons were Henry. John and James Harden; his daughters’ names
were Hannah, who intermarried with Col. Hugh Phelps, late of this
county; Nancy, who intermarried with Mr. Daniel Powell, who, with his
family, resided in this county for many years, and then removed to the
far VVest; and Catherine, who intermarried with Mr. Joseph McCoy.
They, after residing in this county a few years, removed to the territory
of Indiana. Of them aud their descendants we have no definite knowledge.

On the return of Capt. James Neal to Green county, Pennsylvania,
in the summer of 1786, he sometime during that year, married his second
wife. Miss Mary Phelps, a sister of Col. Hugh Phelps, his son-in-law.
Early in the spring of 17S7, Capt. James Neal, with his family and all
his children, both single and married, moved to the station and became
permanent settlers in this county. Under these circumstances we have
placed Captain James Neal as the first permanent settler, and the one
who opened up the way for the future settlements in this county to be
successfully commenced during the troubles attending the Indian war.

Kis life showed him to be endowed with great energy and enterprise,
possessing a noble and generous disposition, courteous in bis bearing,
and charitable in the bestowraent of favors. His great experience caus-
ed him to be looked up to ounsellor and leader in the settlement. —
lie held the office of Just; >. the Peace while this territory was etn,
braced in Harrison county with a license to solemnize the Jes of mat-
rimony among those desiri .g to form that sacred relation .ife. Also,
in addition to the above, he was commissioned Captain of the Frontier
Hangers, for the defense and safety of these border settlements. He
soon had his children with their families severally settled around and
near him, so as to be in reach of the station in times of danger. On zhe
I6th of January, 1701, a daughter was born to him by his second wife,
whom he named after her mother, Mary, being among the first white

38

- JOHN NEAL.

children born between Grave Creek and Point Pleasant, in ♦he State of
Virginia. In 1796 he mourned the death of his second wife, who was
buried near the station, on the banks of the Little Kanawha river.

After this sad and melancholy event in his history, he measurably re-
tired from the active duties of public life. lie took no. active part in
the organization of the County Count, in 18Q0. The early records of
the Court show that he was appointed Commissioner for the examina-
tion of surveyors, as to their qualifications for that office, and he was
also appointed to the performance of other important duties in the
county. From what we have been able to learn, he devoted much
care and attention to the raising and education of his infant daughter,
Mary. She inherited an active, inquiring mind, and its mental unfold-
ings gave him pleasure. On the 25th of March, 1811, she was united
in marriage with Mr. Scarlet G. Foley, and became the mother of a
large family of children. She died at the home place which her father
had given to her, two and a half miles South of Parkersburg, on the 1st
day of September, 1870, in the eightieth year of her age. The author
of these sketches is indebted to her for much information, as to the early
settlers of this county.

In closing this brief notice of Capt. James Neal and his eventfullife,
much might be said and written of him as filling up a wide space in the
early settlement of this county. Nis active energies and enterprise in
meeting the wants and overcoming the difficulties and privations attend-
ant upon the first settlement of this county, then known as the wilder-
ness of the far West, surrounded with a savage foe. secured for him the
respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. In February. 1822, he died
at Lis residence, on his place, at Neal’s Station, honored by a large cir-
cle of relations and friends, in the 85th year of his age, and his remains
were interred in what is now known as Tavenner’s graveyard.

In the preceding chapter we gave a briof account of the tragic death
of Captain James Neal’s eldest son, Henry Neal, by the Indians, on the
Little Kanawha river, opposite the Burning Springs, then in this coun-
ty. His death, and that of Mr. Triplet, at that time, and under such
circumstances, caused a deep gloom to fall over the settlement, and led
to greater caution on the part of the few inhabitants. His memory has
been perpetuated by the descendants of Captain Neal, by honoring them
with his name.

Mr. Neal Rowell, a son of Daniel Rowell, remained in this county for
some years after the removal of 1 fathe and family to the Western
country. He studied medicine under the la le Dr. Creel, of this county. —
Aftor completing his medical studies ho married in Kentucky, and settled
near Florence, Alabama. In the practice of medicine he was successful,
and ho has accumulated a handsome fortune. He resides at his country
residence, three miles from Florence, which he has named “Alban
Woods,” where he is spending the evening of a well spent life, in peace
and tranquility.

FAMILY OF JOHN NEAL.

39

The late Mr. John Neal, (the father of several of the Neal families in
Parkersburg), was the second son of Capt. James Neal. He was born
in Green county, Pa., the 10th of May, 1776. At the t;mo his father,
with his family, settled at Neal’s Station, in this county, he was a youth
of eleven years. Like others born amid the stirring events of the War
of the Revolution, he inherited the self-reliant spirit of those time?,
which gave to him firmness of purpose and decision of character — a self-
reliance in his own energies and enterprises in meeting, the vicissitudes
of life. In 1796 he was united in marriage with Miss Ephlis Kook, a
half-sister to the late Mr. Charles Bryant, of Wood county. (She was
generally known by the name of Aunt Eva Neal), To them thirteen
children were born; one of them died in infancy. The others lived to be
married and settled in life and have families.

We will append the following brief record of these several children :

First, Hannah, born 31st May, 1797, was married to Abram Sam-
uels, Esq. To them twelve children — (seven sons and five daughters)
were born; all married and have families, excepting the two young-
est daughters. The .oldest of these daughters is the wile of T. J.
Cook, Esq. Mr. Abram Samuels died in the summer of 1852. His
widow died on the 14th of July. 1873.

Second, Elizabeth, born the 7th of January, 1799, married 13th of
February, 1815, to Mr. Derrick Pennybaker, who died that year.leav-
mg one child. She remained his widow until her death, the 12th of
March, 1875. M iss Hannah, their daughter, was united in marriage
to Geo. W. Kineheloe, Esq. on the 13th of June, 1837. To them
two daughters were born. lie died in the Spring of 1840. Miss Lu-
cy, the eldest; is the present wife of the Hon. J. M. Jackson, and Miss
lone is the wife of P. D. Gambriil, Esq.

Third, Ilenry Hardin Neal, was born the 20th of October, 1800. —
In his young manhood he settled at Gal li polls, Ohio, where he mar-
ried Miss SafFord, a sister of the late Dr. E. T. Safiord. Of this fam-
ily we have no definite knowledge, excepting one son, the Hon. Hen-
ry Safiord Neal, now a member of Congress from the Ironton Dis-
trict, in the State of Ohio. Mr. Henry Neal still resides in Gallipolis,
Ohio, and is also engaged in active business.

Fourth, Ci neinnatus James Neal, born the 1st of January, 1803,
was married to Miss Mary Ann Collins, daughter of Mr. Thomas
Collins, of Cumberland, Md., on the 24th of February, 1836. To.
them seven children have -been born, aud all are married excepting
the youngest. lie died on the 25th of August, 1869.

Fifth, Daniel Rowell Neal, born the 18th of May, 1805. His first
wife was Miss Caroline Kiger, by whom he had five children, now
living and married, with families. Ilis second wife was Miss Eliza-
beth Beeson, only daughter of the late Jonas Beeson, Esq., by whom
he has one son, named in honor of himself, and who is a practicing
lawyer in this city. We will here add that Mr. Danie^ R. Neal has

40

JOHN NEAL.

been frequently honored by the citizens of the county with a seat in
the Legislature of Ya., and from I860 tu 18(30, he represented this
district in the Senate of the State. He is still engaged in active bus-
iness in the city of Parkersburg.

Sixth, John Neal, born the 2d of October, 1807, was married and
settled in the Big Kanawha Valley, and is now a resident of Lynch-
burg, Va. .

Seventh, Hugh Phelps Neal, born the 11th of December, 1809, was
married to Miss Fetzer, to whom three children have been born. The
eldest is the wife of C. H. Shattuek, Esq., the present Sheriff of this
county.

Eighth, Orena, born the 1st day of April, 1812, was married to the
late Mr. James D. Woodyard, on the 30th of January, 1834. To
them several sons and daughters were born. lie died some twenty
years ago, and the familj has settled in the Western States.

Ninth, Lawrence Perry Neal, born 24th of April, 1814, was mar-
ried to Miss Mary Hall Talbott, on the 9th of December, 1841. To
them five children have been born, three of whom are .married. II is
eldest son, Lawrence Talbott Neal, studied law, and settled in Chili-
cothe, Ohio, and has been highly honored by the people of that coun-
ty and Congressional District. lie was elected Prosecuting Attorney,
also to the House of Representatives, and twice elected to a seat in
the Congress of the United States, being at the time the voungest
member of the House. For several years past, Mr. L. P. xscal has
filled the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court of this county.

Tenth, George B. Neal, born the 2d of February, 1816, was united
in marriage with Miss Caroline McKinley. To them six children
have been born. They still reside in the city of Parkersburg.

Eleventh, Lucy Harriet, whose first husband was Mr. Abraham
Truman, a nephew of the late Wm. Tefit. To them three children
were born. Her second husband is Elias Way man, of Bellair, in the
State of Ohio.

Twelfth, Mary Catherine, born on the 26th of June, 1823, was mar-
ried to Elihu Reed, of Jackson county, where she has since resided.

From the foregoing, it will readily appear that the children, grand-
children, and great grand-children ot Mr. John Neal and his wife.
Aunt Eve, are very numerous. But we return to our accountofhim
as connected with this county in its ear’ history:

On the 12th of May, 1800, he took hi- seat upon the bench of the
County Court, under commission granted by his Excellency, James
Monroe, Governor of the State of Virginia, and ably filled that office
until bis death. From 1807 to 1809, He was High Sheriff of tho
county. In 1809 he was elected a Representative of the county to the
House of Burgesses of Virginia, and served the county in that office
two consecutive terms. He was esteemed for his practical good
Bense and integrity of purpose, >V all the transactions of life, whether

John neal.

41

the same was of a private or public nature. He is remembered as a man
of great energy and force of character, of a sound, discrimina'cingjudg-
ment, exerting a healthy influence in the community. In the full me-
ridian of his manhood years, during the ‘sickly season,’ on the 14th of
October, 1823, he died, leaving his large family of children to the care
of his widow. She faithfully performed her duty, and raised her chil-
dren to habits of industry and economy, and educated for the active
duties of life. On the 27ta of June, 1^52, she died, in the 73d year
of her age. Their honorable remains > epose, side by side^ beneath a
monument erected to their memory, by their children, m the city ceme-
tery, on the banks of the Little Kanawha river.

The youngest child of James Neal, by his first wife, was the late James
Hardin Neal, Esq. lie was three years of age at the time his father
raov ed his family to Neal’s Station, in 1787. Here, in the wilderness of
this county, he spent his early years. Here, his youth, his manhood, down
to old . age, was spent, honorably filling -a wide space in the early history
of this county, and in this portion of the State. By studious habits and
unwearied application he had become well educated, and acquired a good
knowledge of the general literature of his day. Possessing a fine critic-
al turn of mind, he was appreciated as a man of culture, taste, and gen-
eral information.

Having spent some years in the Clerk’s office of Wood County, as
deputy for Mr. John Stokelcy, he was elected Clerk of the County Court
in 1806, and continued in that office until September, 1831. He was al-
so appointed Clerk of the Superior Court of this county, and continued
in that office until his death in 1850. Occupying these responsible and
honorable positions in the county for nearly half a contury, in its ear-
ly history, gave him a wide reputation among the early settlers of
Western Virginia. Owing to the position he thus occupied, and the
ability he brought to bear in the performance of his official duties,
caused him, during those early years of our history, to be extensively’
known among geutlemeu of the legal profession, and the leading men
of the western country.

During his life he was made to mournjthe death ofthree companions.
He was united in marriage with his first wife. Miss Harriet Neale
daughter of the late Thom s Neale, on the 11th of May, 1S10. At
her death she left to his -re four children. Ilia eldest daughter.
Miss Virginia, became i e first wife of the late Join. Murdoch,
Esq. She left at her deat.., in 1848, to the care of her ..usband, sev-
en children, Dr- James N. Murdoch, of Parkersburg, druggist, being
the eldest. Ilis eldest son, Thomas, settled and married at Mt. Ver-,
non, Ohio. At the time of his death, in 1852, he left three children.
As a local preacher in the M. E. Church, he acquired considerable
celebrity Miss Harriet, his second daughter, was the first wife of
Mr. Arthur Kelly, of Marietta, Ohio. She died in 1838. The late
Mr. Harden Neal, his y oungest son by his first wife, was united in

V

42

JAMES HARDIN NEAL, COL. HUGH PlIELPS.

marriage to Miss Elizabeth Collins, of Mil. At the time of hi_s death,
in 1855, lie left to his wife five children.

On the 21st of January, 1S23, Mr. Neal was married to his second
wife, Miss Mary Ann f Veils, daughter of the late Robert Wells, one
of the early settlers of this county. At the time of her death she
left to his care three sons, James, Richard and Robert. Richard died
while a youth. James became the successor of his father, in the
Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Superior Court, in this county, and dis-
charged its duties until his death in 1802. Robert has settled in La-
fayette county, Mo., where he married a daughter of the late Mr
W yatt Lewis, formerly of this county.

The third wife of Mr. James H. Neale was Miss Ann Beard, eldest
da ughter of Joseph and Mary Beard, of Loudon county, Va. She
was a lady ot superior mind, of fine educational endowments, possess-
ing by nature quick perceptive powers and strength of intellect, well
.calculated to adorn the highest positions in society. At the time of
her death she was The mother of seven children, only three of whom
are now living — Air. Joseph B. Neal, of Parkersburg, and his two
sisters. The mortality amongthe children of Mr. James H. Neal has
been great. Of the fourteen, only tour are now living, and their de-
scendants are not very numerous in this county.

Among the enterprising young men with families, who first came
and sought homes in this county, few, if any, exerted a more salutary
and controlling influence and commanded more universal respect
than Col. Hugh Phelps. Of his parentage, we have no definite in-
formation, but he is reported as being a native of Pa. lie was born
on the 14th of February, 17GG, and was united in marriage with Miss
Hannah Neal, daughter of Capt. James Neal, on the loth of March,
1787. She was born on the 15th ot November, 17G8. In company
with Captain James Neal and family, he settled at Neal’s Station, in
this county, early in the Spring of 1787.

In person, Col. Hugh Phelps was tall* well built for activity and
strength, with line features, and intellectual expression of counte-
nance, naturally social and urbane in his general intercourse and hab-
its. To these he united a generous disposition, and a benevolent
heart. Possessing these qualities of mind and heart, he was calcula-
ted to he a representative man. and to exercise a controlling influence
among his assoeiaU in a new country,

' His spirit of enterprise was active and continually exercised in put-
ting forth efforts to advance the public interests and welfare of the
'various settlements in the county, for the purpose of developing its
natural resources, and securing their advantages. He tilled the office
of Presiding Justice at the time the county was organized, on March
10 b, 1800. As such he labored to give dignity and character to the
bench in all their proceedings. In 1802 he filled the office of High

”ol. high nnaps.

43

Sheriff of tli c mnty, and the lute Col. Thomas Tavenner was his dep-
uty. During veral sessions of the House of Burgesses he represented
the connty i< h; Legislature of the State. In all of these offices he
proved himse efficient and worthy of the confidence of the public. lie
was also the first Colonel of the militia of the c< nty. In organizing the
same, he inspired in the breasts of the militia a pirit of emulation and
patriotic devotion to their country. These labors were not lost. Con-
sidering the sparse population of the country, no portio; of Virginia
contributed more men i the war f 1812-15, and did no active ser-
vice in that war than men from Wood county, ller citi i are found
from Norfol in the East, to the Lakes iu the Northwest, nattling with
Great Brit; and her Indian allies for the rights of American free-
dom.

To Col. Hugh Phelps and his amiable wife ten children were born in
this county, three of whom died in infancy. Their eldest daughter, Miss
Priscilla, was united in marriage with Mr. Thomas Creel, on the 14th of
October, 1S04. (An account of this family will be found in our sketches
of the descendants of the late Mr. George Creel, of this county.) Their
second daughter, Miss Hannah, was united in marriage with the late
Mr. Mason Foley, Esq., of this county, on the 20th day of September,
1810. To them thirteen childreu were born, of whom only fire are now
living. Many of the descendants of Mr. Mason Foley are now living
in this county, and some of them in Doddridge county. (Of the Foley
family, who came to this county from Loudon couuty, Va., in 1807, we
may hereafter give an account.) Their eldest son, the late Mr. John
Phelps, was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor Ivincheloe, daughter
of the late Major Robert Ivincheloe. To them thirteen children were
born; seven of whom died while young, the remaining six are still living,
married, and have families; four of whom reside in this county, and two
in the State of Ohio. Our townsman, Mr. Robert Iv. Phelps, on the
6th of Sept., 1838, was united in marriage with Miss Minerva Parken-
son. To them seven sons and two daughters, now living, have been
born; four of whom are married andjiave children. Mrs. Elizabeth, the
second child of Mr. John Phelps, was married to Geo. L. Harwood on 7th
April, 1836. To them six children were born. He died in 1877. Mr.
George Phelps; of Claysville, the second son living, was united in mar-,
riage with Miss Sarah Creel, daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Creele.
A notice of them is given in the accouutof that family. Miss Mary,the.
second daughter living, was united in marriu on the 3d of February,
1848, to Thomas II. Creel, son of Thomas Creel, deceased. They re-
side at the old homestead place of his father, and his grand-father, the
late Mr. George Creel, known in the early History of this county as
“Bacon Ilall.” To them nine children haye been born, and at this time
all reside with their parents. Lewis and James married sisters, Miss
Julia and Miss Louisa Taylor. They reside at this time in the State of
Ohio. •

44

COL. HUGH rUELP8.

Mr. John I’helps was a raan'of gentlemanly -hearing, and highly re-
spected as a citizen, neighbor and friend. He died in 1S54. Ilia wid-
ow died in the winter of 1875.

Mr. Jefferson Phelps, the second son living, of Col. Hugh Phelps, was
horn the 26th of March, 1301. He was united in marriage with Miss
Harriet Armstrong, of Harrison county, on the 27th of May, 1824. Af-
ter completing his law studies, he settled in Covington, Ky., where he
became an eminent practitioner at the bar, and filled an honorable po-
sition in the history of that State during his life. He died in 1843. Of
his family we have no definite knowledge.

Mr. Henry Phelps, another son, was married to a lady in Kanawha
county, Va. During his life he was subject to fits, kc. Of his family
we have no knowledge.

Mr. Hugh Henderson Phelps, the youngest son of Col. Hugh Phelps,
was born on the 7th of July, 1803. He was united in marriage with
Miss Mary Ann Kincheloe, daughter of Major Robert Kincheloe, on the
12th of August, 1824. To them five sons and three daughters were born,
who lived to be grown and settled in life. They have all removed from
this county, and of their present condition our knowledge is very limit-
ed. Mr. Phelps died at Claysville, in the winter of 1875, and hia widow
died in Jackson county, in the summer of 1876.

Miss'Delilah Phelps, the youngest daughter of Col. Hugh Phelps, was
born on the 16th of March, 1706, and was married to. Mr. John J. Suth-
erland on the 15th of May, 1826. She died about the year 1S44, leav-
ing several children, of whom we have r.o definite information. (The
Sutherland family were among the early settlers of this county, and at
one time were quite numerous. The mother of John Sutherland was a
sister to Col. Barnet H. Foley, of this county. They resided on Worth-
ington Creek about three miles East of Parkersburg.)

In closing this sketch of Col. Hugh Phelps, we would say that in his
life time he extensively engaged in land speculations, and had accumula-
ted a large landed estate in the various parts of the country. Dying
suddenly, during what has been termed the -‘sickly season,” on the 6tn
of September, 1823, and leaving his estate in an unsettled condition,
and no one assuming the necessary care and oversight of the same, it
was near’v all lost to the heirs of the estate. His widow soon followed,
dying <• i.e 15th day of September, 1824. Their remains repose in
the fn iy - aveyard, on the farm, which soon after their deaths, be-
came ti'.i property of the late Col. Thomas Tavennei*. Before closing
this brief account of Col. Hugh Phelps, we would say that among the
early settlers of this county he had two brothers, named Elijah and
John, who left numerous descendants, of whom we have but a limited
knowledge, also two sisters, the second wife of Capt. James Neal, and
Mrs. Barnes. The descendants ofMrs. Barnes are very numerous- in
this and Wirt counties. But we have not the means of getting the nec-
essary information for furnishing a correct record of them. In the on-

COL. IIUGU PHELP8.

45

ward flight ot years, the records of the families of the past generation
became lost and forgotten among their descendants.

While trying to review the history of the early settlers of this coun-
ty, and finding how few mementos have been made of those who
once were active upon life’s great theatre, a felling of melancholy
and sadness comes over our spirits. Like bubbles passing down a
stream, we are seen for a short time, then burst and sink away into
the vast ocean of the past. The anxious, throbbing heart of to-day
is soon stilled in death, and is lost in forgetfulness — like a shadow, he
declineth, and is gone forever: and the few who treasured his memo-
ry will soon sink beneath the same oblivious wave,, leaving but few,
if any, traces behind them. Such is a d has been the history of our
. race along the pathway o. time.

In the excitement in this county arising from the unsuccessful ex-
pedition of Burr and Blennerhassett. in the fall and winter of 1806,
the lirst efforts for their arrest was made by Col. Hugh Phelps. At
that date he was Colonel of the regiment in this county, and under
the proclamation of President Thomas Jefferson, he called out a por-
tion of the militia of the county tor tlie purpose of arresting them. —
In the Life of Blennerhassett, written and published by the Hon. W.
H. Safford, in 1850. we copy the following paragraph, in relation to
Col. Hugh Phelps: (Blennerhassett will form a future chapter.)

“During the course of the evening Col. Hugh Phelps returned from
his tour across the country. (From Pt. Pleasant to Parkersburg). —
In this unexpected arrival, the young men, (Morgan Neville and W.
Robinson, Jr.,) bad new cause for anxiety and alarm. They had con-
gratulated themselves upon their successful defeat ot the functiona-
ries of law, which they attributed mainly to their superior tact in
mystifying their judges and intimidating their accuses?; butherewas
one who could not be -duped by sophistical reasoning, or swerved
from his duties by fear of consequences. Although dressed iu the
usual style of the backwoodsman of that day, the careless manner in
which he wore his garb, udded gracefulness to a form both attractive
and commanding. They recognized in him an individual of physical
as well as intellectual superiority, and. therefore, wisely concluded to
assume a different bearing from that they before had observed before
their captors and judge

In a thoughtful and d-.ssic attitude, be surveyed the destruction of
the premises, and the evident marks of bacchanalian revelry with
v which the party under hie command had disgraced themselves; then,
turning upon them a look of witliering rebuke, be spoke in 6uch terms
of indignation as caused them to shrink with fear and trepidation. —
‘•Shame, men !” he exclaimed “Shame on such conduct!” You have
disgraced your district and the cause in which you are concerned.”

To these young men and to Mrs. Blennerhassett he was courteous
and obliging; assisting them in their departure from the Islapd..

OHAPTEB Y1I.

o

IRST SETTLEMENT.

In the beautiful valley ot the Ohio there ai'e b’ut few, if any, river
bottoms of land which excel in richness of soil the one known as
Belleville. It is pleasantly situated on the south side of the river in
this count}’, commencing’ some sixteen miles below tin? city of Park-
ersburg, opposite the mouth of the Big Ilocking river, and extend.-'
down about five miles, and contains some two thousand acres ot land.

Lee, the largest creek in the county, and draining its southern
portion, empties into the Ohio through this bottom dividing it into
nearly equal parts. The lands upon the creek are valuable for all
farming purposes, heading in the limestone riRge, separating this and
Jackson counties. Much might be written and said in favor of this
portion of our county, as to the richness of its soil, 'and its adoption
to all agricultural purposes.

In the year 1771, the time when Gen. George Washington descend-
ed the Ohio aud lo'cated his lands in the District of West Augusta, he
located and partially surveyed, and afterwards had patentee! to him
apart of this rich aud beautiful bottom. In after years, when his
survey was made ac^rding to its calls in the patent, it was found
that the back lines of the survey passed through the central part of
this bottom, below Lee Creek. This creek was named after Mr. Da-
vid Lee, a trapper and hunter, who before this time had his camp up-
on this creek. He afterwards became a permanent citizen ot this
county, married and settled on Tygart Creek, raised a family and died
there, some forty years ago, leaving many worthy descendants.

In the year 1782, when the firm ot Wra. Tilton' & Co., of Philadel-
phia, Pa., located and made their entries of large tracts of land in this

JOSEPH WOOD.

47

(then Monongalia) county, amounting to upwards of ninety thousand
acres, this bottom was included ip. their surveys, by a junior patent to
that of Gen. Washington’s.

In the summer of 1785, while Mr. Win. Tilton was at Fort Pitt, (now
the city of Pittsburg,Pa.,) he formed the acquaintance of the late lion.
•Judge Joseph Wood.' of Marietta, Ohio, then a young man from the
State of New Jersey. Mr. Wood had by his industry acquired a good
English education, and by study had qualified himself for the profession
of surveyor and civil engineer. lie had left his native town and came
West for the purpose of joining a company of surveyors, then assem-
bling at Pittsburg, to survey the public lands Northwest of the Ohio riv-
er, and South of the Western boundary line of the State of Pennsylva-
nia, under the Geographical Surveyor of the United States.

At that period in the history of our country, the Indian tribes of the
Northwestern territory had begun to show hostility to the frontier set-
tlers, and had killed and plundered several white traders residing among
them. Among these was Mr. Martin, a brother-in-law of the Tomlin-
sons. These hostile proceedings of the Indians rendered the sending of
surveyors into the wilderness hazardous and inexpedient on the part of
the Government. Consequently, the surveying expedition was post-
poned to a future day. .

It was at this time, while Mr. Wood was residing at Pittsburg, with-
out any permanent employment, that he made the acquaintance of Capt.
Wtn. Tilton, of the firm of Tilton, Gibbs & Co., heavy landholders in
Western Virginia. Mr. Tilton entered into arrangements with him as
agent, surveyor, &.c. * for the colonization and sale of the lands of Tilton,
Gibbs & Col Under this agreement the large tract of land at Belleville
was selected as the place to commence their settlement.

During the fall of 1785 a suitable boat was built, and under the direc-
tion of Mr. Wood, was freighted with cattle, farming utensils, etc., with
such other articles as might be needed in commencing a new settlement
at some two huudred miles from where supplies could be procured at
that time.

In this boat, Mr. Tilton, with his agent, Mr. Wood, and four Scotch
families, as emigrants, with several men hired for the year, left Pitts-
burg on the 28th day of November, and landed at Belleville on the ICth
day of December, 1785, (having stopped at Fort Ilarmar, at the mouth
of the Big Muskingum, then in course of completion by Major John
Daughty, o, ;ie U.iS. Army.)

Capt. Tilton anil his party having landed and secured their boat against
dangers from ice, &c., their next effort was to select a place and arrange
for making a permanent settlement. A high, dry bottom, on the bank
of the river, was chosen, and a clearing commenced. From the timber
cut down they erected a block-house, forty feet by twenty, two stories
high, convenient to water. Loop holes for musketry were cut in the
logs, thus making the building offensive as well as defensive in times of

48

JOSEPH WOOD.

danger from Indian uttacks. Early in January, 1786, the building
completed, and the entire company moved from the boat and took pos-
session of it as their future home. Mr. Wood theu laid out a town by
survey, and gave to it the name of Belleville. Lots in the town were do-
nated to actual settlers. The clearing of the lands in and around the
town was continued, and during the first year about one hundred acres
was prepared for cultivation. In the spring of 1786 Capt. Tilton re*
turned to Philadelphia, leaving the settlement in charge of Mr. Wood, as
the sole agent of the company, and the manager of the settlement. Sev-
eral log houses, for the residence of individual families were erected near
the block-house, also convenient out-houses for stock, eto The whole
were enclosed by pickets, eight or ten feet high, securely planted in the
earth, thus making it a regular stockade garrison, sufficient for the ac-
commodation of about two hundred persons, forming an oblong square of
about three hundred feet along the river front, and extending back about
one hundred teet. Gates at either end for the admission of teams, etc ,
were securely erected, and a wicket gate in front for descending to the
river for water and return, was also erected.

Of the Scotch emigrants with families who first came to Belleville
with Mr. Wood, and those who came the following spring, we have been
able to gather only the following named persons, viz : Messrs. McDoa-
al, Greathonse, Tabor, James Pewthew'er, Wm. Ingals, Jemerson, An-
drew McCash, and two single men, F. Andrews and Thomas Gilruth. —
We are not aware that any of the descendants of these families are now
residing in this country. • o

In the year 1787 this settlement was joined by the following persons:
viz : Joel and Joseph Dewy, from near Wyoming, Pa.; Stephen Sherod
and family, from the same place, Malcomb Coleman, with his wife and
family of sons and daughters, from Carlisle, Pa.; Peter and Andrew An-
derson, from above Wheeling, Va. Descendants from these last named
families are still living in the lower part oi this and Jackson conuty. —
We made mention of some of them in the fifth chapter. .

In the spring of 1785, a company of hunters and trappers from the
vicinity of Wheeling, but formerly from the Susquehanna river, Pa., took
possession of an abandoned Indian improvement of about twenty acres,
above the mouth of Lee Crock, erected a station house and cultivated
the improvement in corn. This was then known as Flinn’s Station. It
consisted of old Mr. Flinn, a widower, and his two sor.s, Thomas and
James, and their families, Mr. Parchment, with his wi; and two sons,
Jacob and John, Mr. John Barnett, who married a dai .o :r of Flinn’s.
and Mr. John McCessack, a single man. The principal occupation of
these men was hunting and trapping. In 1787 the inhabitants of this
station moved down to the station at Belleville, thus adding strength,
safety and protection to the inhabitants of that station against the Indi-
ans, who had commenced being troublesome by their stealing of horses,
etc., and threatening the safety of the settlement.

JOSEPH WOOD.

49

Wo have already spoken of Mr. Peter Anderson. Soon after the
formation of Wood county, he was commissioned, on the 4th of May,
1801, and filled the office of Justice of the Peace, acceptably, until
his great age caused him to resign. On his resignation, the Rev. Ben-
jamin 1 tchell, an aide local minister of Belleville, was commission-
ed and ailed that office in that vicinity until his death in 1834. Mr.
John Kinchcloe, of Belleville, was the, successor of Mr. Mitchell, and
filled that office in that community until the adoption of the constitu-
tion.of 1851.

Mr. Joseph Wood, the agent of the Tilton lands, was United in mar-
riage with Miss 'Margaret Pewthewcr, a Scotch lady, a daughter of
•James Pewthewer, one of the first emigrants to that settlement, in
summer of 1790. Owing to the fact that no person in that settle-
ment was authorized to solemnize the rites of matrimony, they came
up to “Farmer’s Castle/’ in Belpre. Ohio, where the marriage cere-
mony was performed by Gen. Benjamin Tapper, a magistrate of that
State. In 1791 lie moved to Marietta, Ohio. In that place and vi-
cinity he resided until his death in 1851, in the 93d year of Ids age,
having- filled with credit and honor many important offiees. His
daughter, Miss Agnes, still resides at the homestead place in that city,
who is in possession of her father’s papers.

Having thus very briefly sketched these facts which have come to
our knowledge relative to the first, settlement made at Belleville, in
1785, and traced the same down to 1795, the jrear of the treaty of
peace with the Indians ot the Northwestern territory, which resulted
from the victories of Gen. Wayne, in some future chapter we will
briefly notice the individual settlers who came to that portion of our
county after that date. In doing this, we presume that manjT per-
sons wiil be omitted for the want of information. We find in the
records of our county many names that furnish no data of their com-
ing, or when they left, or of their pursuits while here. This want of
correct information We meet with frequently while endeavoring to
make up these sketches.

CHAPTEB VIII.

FIRST SETTLEMENT/

Among the citizens and inhabitants of the county, at the present day,
there are but few, if any, remaining, who can rightly appreciate the
rude character, heroism and worth of many of those noble and fearless
frontiersmen, who, from the condition of those early times and the sur-
rounding circumstances of the country and its settlements during the
last half of the eighteenth century, were employed by the Province
of Virginia as Rangers, for the purpose of giving notice to, and protect-
ing the inhabitants of the settlements which were then being extended
from the Valley of Virginia, west and northwest, to and over the Alle-
gheny Mountains, to the tributary streams of the Ohio river. The In-
dian tribes of the great Northwestern territory, from the influences then
brought to bear upon them by the French and English Governments,
were a cruel and dangerous foe, then hanging about the skirts of these
settlements.

It frequently taxed the wisdom and the limited resources of the House
of Burgesses of Virginia to successfully provide for the safety and de-
fence of her citizens who were then making settlements along the front-
ier bo ries of her counties. /The Rangers thus employed by them

had to men who could discover and identify the traces and courses

of the:- ndians in their raids, their manner of attack, their mode of
warlare, and successfully turn them back, or punish them for theif ag-
gressions.

Among those employed by the Colonial Government of Virginia as a •
Ranger, tor the protection of her frontier settlements, was Mr. Isaac
Williams, who spent the last of his years as a citizen of this county. —
Being one of its first settlers, and for many years occupying a prorni-

ISAAC WILLIAMS.

51

nent position in this countv, we will here give a brief notico of him and
his family, as well as a brief notice of those who succeeded to his estate
in this county.

In doiug so, however, we here acknowledge our indebtedness to the
sketches made by the late Dr. S. P. Hildreth, of Marietta, Ohio, for
many of the facts herein stated.

Mr. I saac Williams was born in Chester county, Pa., on the lGth. of
July, 1737. When quite a youth his parents removed with him to
Winchester, Va., where he grew up to young manhood. He early in
life displayed great love and aptitude for hunting and trapping. -When
at the age of eighteen years, the Colonial Government of. Virginia em-
ployed him as a Ranger and spy to watch the movements of the Indians
on the frontier, and ward off the dangers from their attacks upon the
white settlements. In that capacity lie served Virginia in thut'disas-
trous campaign of Gen. Braddock, in the year 1754. He was also one
of the Rangers who assisted in guarding the first convoy of provisions
and ammunition to Fort Duquesne, after it had been captured by Gen.
Forbes, of Pennsylvania, in 1758, and who had changed its name to Fort
Pitt. At that time the western part of the present State of Pennsylva-
nia was supposed to belong to the Colony of Virginia. The completion
of the survey of the Mason and Dixon line gave it to that State.

The following ten years after, he spent in hunting and trapping on
the western waters, having descended the Ohio to the Mississippi, and
ascended the Mississippi to the Missouri river and returned. In
1708 he conducted his parents over the mountains from Winchester, and
settled thorn on Buflalo Creek, near West Liberty, in what is now Brooke
county, West Va. In 1769 he accompanied Ebenezer and Jonathan
Zane in their explorations of the country around Wheeling, Zanesville,
and other locations, west of the mountains. By his hunting and trap-
ping excursions he became well acquainted with the topography of the
Ohio river and its tributaries, and entered several tomahawk rights,
which he sold. In 1774 he accompanied Governor Dunmore in his In-
dian expedition against the Shawnees, then at war with the Colonies, un-
der the leadership of the celebated chieftain, Cornstalk, and was with
him when he concluded the treaty of peace near Chilicothe, after the
battle at Pt. Pleasant, under Gen. Lewis, in that year.

In 1775 he became acqun’ 1 with Mrs. Rebecca Mart:

Creek, whose husband had 1 killed by the Indians, on

in 1770, and after a short ac ntance, th- ere unit<

She was a daughter of Mr. Jo ph Tomli i, born at
the Potomac, in the State of V ryland, c ie 1.4th d.

1754. After the death of her first busbar* .a 1771, slu
her two brothers, Samuel and Joseph, to Grave Creek, on the Onio riv-
er, and was their housekeeper for several years. In 1783 her brothers
while engaged in trapping at and near the mouth of the Big Muskingum,
preempted for her g* tract of 400 acres of land in Virginia, opposite the

, at Grave
g Hooking,
marriage.

Creek, on
Feb . uary ,
xorcpanied

6 2

ISAAC WILLIAMS.

mouth of the Big Muskingum river, and cleared four acres and erected a
cabin thereon, and raised a crop of corn during that year. This tract
of land, owing to its location, and the fertility of its soil, has become
very valuable. The beautiful village of Williamstown forms a part of it,
while the residue has been divided into small farms, now in a high state
of cultivation.

• In 1786, Fort IXarmar, at the mouth of the Muskingum river, having
been established and garrisoned by United States troops, on the 26th
day of March, 1787, Mr. Isaac Williams, with his wife and family, mov-
ed to and settled on this 400 acre tract belonging to his wife, under the
preemption laws of Virginia. Soon after their arrival at the place, his
wife gave birth to a daughter, whom they named Drusilla. She was the
only child by thi3 marriage. She lived to become a woman, and was
united in marriage to John G. Henderson, a son of Alexander Hender-
son, of Dumfries, • Va. By him she became the mother of one child,
which died in infancy. Soon after the death of this child the mother
died, being about twenty years of age. Mr. John G. Henderson came to
this county in 1797, in company with the late Robert Triplett. Mr.
Henderson filled important positions in this county for many years after
its organization. A notice of him and his brothers, who settled here at
an early day, is reserved for a future chapter.

After the removal of Mr. Williams to this wilderness farm, he aban-
doned bunting and trapping as a means of support (only seldom taking
an excursion as a pastime), and devoted his time and attention to this
farm, making all necessary improvements. Situated opposite to and
commanding a full view of Marietta and the Big Muskingum river, it
soon became a noted and interesting place of retreat, and is now known
by the name of Williamstown.

Honesty, industry, prudence and economy gave him prosperity as u
farmer, and secured for him the respect and esteem of all the early pio-
neers. Thoughtful and considerate of the welfare and happiness of
others, his benevolence extended a helping hand to any in want. After
living on this plantation for thirty-three years, and making it one of the
most pleasant and productive farms in the country, surrounding himself
with the necessary comforts of those early times, making his home the
mansion of hospitality for his neighbors and friends, as also a resting
place for the stranger, he died on the 25th of September, 1820, aged
84, having spent an active life, full of years ,ade up of good deeds, and
in the enjoyment of a hope of a blessed im rtality.

The first half of his manhood years was mostly devoted to the pro-
tection oftho frontier settlements against the inroads and attacks of the
Indians in their savage mode of warfare. As a ranger and spy upon
their war-paths, he had but few, if any equals. lie bad made himself
well acquainted with all their modes of pursuit, attack and retreat. In
these dangerous expeditions he was frequently the associate of Lewis

■ . .

ISAAC WILLIAMS.

53

Wetzel, Kerr, and others of great notoriety in those years. He was
cool, thoughtful and courageous, and so watchful of his foe as never
to permit him to gain an advantage or inflict on him a wound. Ilis
wife possessed the same heroic courage and dauntless spirit, and shar-
ed with him in the full sympathy of his nature. ,

In person he was of the medium size, with an upright lrame and
muscular limbs, features well formed and marked, a mild expresions
of countenance, with taciturn and quiet manners, securing confidence
and respect. lie with his family, were buried in a beautiful s[*ot, on
his plantation, shaded by the trees he dearly loved in life.

After the death of Mrs. Rebecca Williams, this beautiful planta-
tion descended by devise to the late John A.Kinnard, who had married
Miss Mary Tomlinson, the sixth child of Joseph and Elizabeth Tom-
linson, late of Grave Creek, and a niece of Mrs. Williams. Mr. John
A. Kinnard, with his young wife, moved to Wood county in 1807, and
settled on this farm. Here they raised a family of six children, who
attained to man and womanhood, and who are now all dead but one,
M rs. Mary Gardner,

In January, 1827, lie was commissioned a Justice of the Peace of
the county, and served the county acceptably until his advanced age
caused him to resign. In the discharge of public duties, lie was
thoughtful, considerate, and faithful. In private life he was highly
esteemed for his uprightness of character and manly hearing.

Having made a disposition of his property among his children, lie
removed to Parkersburg, and for some time before his death, he and
his wife resided with their youngest daughter, Mrs. Gardner. He
died at Parkersburg, on the 2d of May, 1850, in the 73d year of his
age. His esteemed and venerable widow, Mrs. Mary Kinnard, sur-
vived him until the 16th of March, 1873, when she died at Parkers-
burg, at the residence of her daughter, at the age of 87 years. They
filled up the measure of their years with usefulness to themselves
and society, and died respected and beloved.

We will give a brief notice of their children in the order of their
births :

First — Alfred Little Kinnard, who was bora in the summer of
1808. He graduated at Athens College, Ohio: studied law for his
profession, and commenced practice in Parkersburg in the fali of
1833. But not liking it, he soon abandoned that profession, and com-
menced merchandising in Ripley, Jackson county; hut not meeting
with success, he returned to this county, where he resided until his
death. On the 3d of January, 1830, lie was happily united in mar-
riage with Miss Julia A. Nixon, of Parkersburg. No children were
horn to them. He died at Parkersburg, on the 6th ol March, 1872,
aged 03 years, TO months and 3 days. After a long and painful ill-
ness from cancer, she died at Parkersburg, on the 24th of June, 1878.
They were zealous aud active members of the M. E. Church, South,

54

JOHN A. KINXARD.

Second — Louisa Kinnard, who married the late lion. John F. Snod-
grass. She (lied at Parkersburg. on the 22d day of October, 1843, aged
31 years, 11 months and 22 days, leaving four children. Mr. Snod-
grass was a native ot Berkeley county. Va., emigrated to Parkersburg
in 1830, and entered successfully upon the practice of the law; was
elected and served' in the Convention of Virginia in 1851-2, and was
re-elected, and took his seat in C->ngress in' 1853, and died at Park-
ersburg, on the 5th of June, 1854.

Third — Rebecca Kinnard was united in marriage to Alexandar
Murdoch, of Washington, Pa.; died 23 of January, 1841, aged 27years
and 12 days.

Fourth — Drusilla Kinnard died unmarried at the home residence
of her parents, in Williamstown, the 21st day of August, 1841, aged
25 years, 6 months and 15 days.

Fifth — Rev. Rufus Kinnard, a worthy local minister in the M. E.
Church, was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Cook, eldest daughter
of the late Tillinghast A, Cook, died at- Williamstown, the 24th day
of March, 1871, aged 51 years, 6 months and 10 days. He was a
prominent, active and useful citizen, respected by' all, filling up the
measure of his years with usefulness. At his death he left a widow
with seven children, who resident the homestead place, in Wiilliams-
town. Ilis widow has been united in marriage with John. A. Hen-
derson, of that town.

Sixth — The youngestchild and daughter, Mary, was united in mar-
riage to Wm. S. Gardner, on the 5th of November, 1844. He was a
native of the State of Pennsylvania, and settled in this county in ’35,
and was married to Miss Ann S. Beeson, the youngest daughter of the
late Col. Jacob Beeson, (who occupied a prominent position in the ear-
ly history of this county’.) He was engaged very extensively in mer-
chandising. He died the 31st day of October, 1*849, aged 37 years, 4
months and 14 days. His widow still resides in Parkersburg, and it
was at her home that her venerable parents closed up the eventful
periods of their lives.

While penning the foregoing sketches of John A. Kinnard and his
once interesting family’, our mind has frequently turned back, and
with mournful pleasure reviewed the days of other years, when these
parents with their children, formed an unbroken, happy’ family’ around
the domestic hearth of home, and we were permitted to 6hare in their
hospitality. Intelligence and refinement, blended with cheerfulness
of heart, in kindred sympathies, made the hours pass smoothly7 and
pleasantly, and imparted to memory a rich legacy of remembrances,
of joys and happiness. We can almostsee again the watchful pride of
parental love, as then bestowed upon those children of their future
hopes. Now, all except one has passed in hope to the joys of that bet-
ter, brighter, happier world.

On the Southern banks of the Ohio, upon an elevated plateau of

JOUX A. KINNARD.

land, fronting Marietta, and within the original boundaries of this plant-
ation, is situated the pleasant village of Williamstown. Several years ago
it was made an incorporated town by an Act of the Legislature of Vir-
ginia, and coutains a population of about five hundred inhabitants. A
turnpike extends back through this county from this town over fine ara-
ble lands, and intersects the Northwestern Turnpike, fifteen miles East
of Parkersburg. Above and below the town, the bottom lands on the
Ohio are wide and of the best quality, giving not only fine views of the
Ohio Valley, but also of the Muskingum. The railroads terminating at
Marietta add greatly to the landed estate of this portion of the county, —
A charter was obtained from the Legislature of Virginia for a railroad
from this town to intersect the North western Virginia Railroad at the
town of Ellenboro, thirty-seven miles East o 'arkersburg, but failed in
being made for want of capital.

CHAPTBE; IX,

Belleville in 1795*

In Chapter Seven, we presented to the reader an account of the first
settlement made at .Belleville, in the lower part of this county, in 1785,
and followed its history down to 1795, the date of the close of the Indi-
an war in the then Northwestern Territory, and the treaty of peace re-
sulting from the victories of General Anthony Wayne, made at Green-
ville. Ohio.

We made our sketch of that settlement in those years from 17S5 to
1795, ns perfect and complete as the limited materials at our command
would admit. The information was gathered from several sources, of a
reliable character. As that settlement soon thereafter assumed a lead-
ing position in this vicinity, we will continue the same from that year,
U795.)

The treaty of peace made with the Indians in the summer of 1795, at*
Grceneville, Ohio, opened up a new chapter in the settlements on the
Ohio ami its numerous tributaries, arising from the comparative safety
felt by the inhabitants then occupying the country, from fear oflndian
raids and their cruel barbarities, so common in former years.

It also in vited new emigrants from among ‘he voting and enterprising
families of th South, East and North, to hei • leet and open up homes,

amidst the r i and fertile lands of this grea* Icy. This desirable op-

portunity w. hailed d improved, and the .e of emigration became
great as the country1 b 'ame more generally and perfectly known. Un-
der these au dees, in t: is chapter we shall further trace the settlement
made at Belleville and its vicinity.

We have learned that Mr. David Lee, a hunter and trapper, some
years prior to 1785, had encamped on Lee Creek, forthc purpose of
prosecuting that business, and consequently the creek took its name

GEORGE 1>. AVERY.

v

57

from him. lie continued his residence and occupation in that vicin-
ity, and in one of those years he married a sinter of Mr. Peter Ander-
son, and finally purchased land, and settled <>n Tygart creek in this
county, and raised a family of five sons and three daughters. The
last ot his sons, of whom we have any knowledge, was Mr. Stephen
Lee, who died some years since in this county. Several of the de-
scendants of Mr. David Lee reside in this county, lie was a native of
the State of Pennsylvania, and in early life had the reputation of be-
ing one of the most successful hunters and trappers of his time.

About the year 1796 or 1797, the settlement at Belleville received'
a most important addition by emigrants from the State of Connecti-
cut. The leading man of this emigration was Mr. George 1). Avery,
lie commenced, sind for several years carried on merchandizing in
connection with ship building, at that place. Many ships in those
early years were built there, and descended the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers to the Ocean. He was a man of line educational attainments, a
'professed surveyor and civil engineer. Of some of his services in this
capacity, we will hereafter speak.

His wife bad been the widow of Mr. Champlin, of Connecticut, a
lady well educated and ot fine culture. By him she was the mother
of three sons, viz: Lodwick, Samuel and Guy. Champlin. By Mr.
Avery, she was the mother of one son, who was named after his fath-
er. These orphan children of Mr. Champlin were underthe guidance
and supervision ot Mr. Avery, who acted a generous part hv them. —
The estate of Mr. Champlin was invested in laud for his children and
heirs, by Mr. Avery, on the upper part of Belleville Bottom, and is
included in tlTe lands now belonging to Mr. Daniel R. Neal.

After the formation of Wood county, Mr. Avery was commissioned
and ably filled the office of Justice of the Peace, taking a prominent
part in the reviewing and establishing of comity roads, and looking
after the general welfare ot the county.

Under the direction of William Robinson, Jr., and Dr. Joseph Spen-
cer, (who were litigating their titles to Parkersburg), on the 7th of
December, 1810, Mr. Avery completed his survey of tlie town of Par-
kersburg. the streets of which are made to intersect each other at
right angles,- running from the Ohio river in a Southeasterly direction,
and from the Little Kanawha northeasterly. The town then contained one
hundred and seventy acres of land. The plot and survey as then made
by Mr. Avery, was put upon record in the Clerk’s Office ot the coun-
•tv at the February term, 1816, and will he found in Deed Book No.
5, page 337, and 338. Avery street, the fifth from the Ohio river,
runs from the Little Kanawha river, at the East end of the old Fer-
ry, formerly kept by Col. Otis L, Bradford, in a Northeasterly direc-
tion, passes on the Northwest side of the passenger depot ot the B. &
O. Railroad, was named in honor of him.

After doing a large and extensive business at Belleville, for many

■

58

T II K PRENTISS FAMILY

years, lie finally failed financially, and having had the misfortune to bury
his wife, lie removed, and his subsequent hi.-tory, as well as that of the
Ohamplin family, is unknown to the writer. It is thus that many of
she early citizens of the county, who filled prominent and responsible po-
sitions, have been lost sight of, and have passed away.

Among the emigrants to Belleville with Mr. Averv, was that of Mr.
Prentiss ttrid family.- II is wife was a sister to Mrs. Avery. Ho pur-
chased and scaled on a farm on the Ohio river, immediately above and
adjoining Lee Creek, and also purchased other lands or lots in Bele-
ville. Soon after settling there lie died, leaving a widow and two sons,
Jonathan and Henry L. Prentiss. ,

Mr. Jonathan Prentiss inherited the farm on Lee creek. After some
years, he emigrated and settled in Monongalia county, and fin .fly sold
the farm to Caleb Wells, and it now belongs to his heirs. Henry L.
Prentiss married Miss Rebecca Mayberry, daughter of Mr. Geo. May-
berry, deceased, and sister of the late Hon. John P. Mayberry, o: Park-
ersburg. He sold his laud at. Belleville, and purchased- and settled in
Parkersburg. For many years he filled prominent positions in the
county. On the 28th of February, 1^22, he was commissioned a Jus-
tice of the Peace, which office ho held until 1837, when he removed to
the West. He was elected and served this county several times in the
House of Delegates of Virginia. lie finally settled in Quincy, Illinois,
where lie died many years since. His eldest son, Gen. Benjamin M.
Prentiss, resides in that city. Many of our old citizens will remember
Ilenry L. Prentiss,' and the quaintnesS of his address, and the burlesq-
ueness of his manners.

In the year 1797, two brothers with their families, by the name of
John and Michael Simms, came, purchased and settled on the South
Fork of Lee Creek, about a mile and a halfback of Belleville. Here
they opened fine farms, and resided until 1S1G, when they sold to Elisha
Timms and Benjamin Mitchell, who, in the fall of that year emigrated to
this county, from Culpepper county, Va. The two Simms families em-
igrated to Ohio, and settled on Shade river Under the ministry of the
Rev. Benjamin Crouch, Mr. Mitchell joined the M. E. Church, aud soon
■after was licensed as a local minister in the church, and officiated as such
successfully, until his death, in 1834. lie was abundant in labors and
usefulness. At the tin of his death he loft a large -unify of children.
These were raised and ;cu for usefulness in soc fy, ol several of
them still reside in th ount

Among them is oui live d worthy City Surge.. dm W. Mitch1
ell and Henry S. Mite 1, a Tchant at -villc. ■ Rev. Elisha
T. Mitchell, some year ncc novel to i ugton Cabell county,

where he is engaged in mu harm ng, ie eldest sou, James W.

Mitchell, for many years past has resided at Ashland, Ky. These four
sons ofRev. Benjamin Mitchell all ha • e large families, and occupy prom-
inent positions in the communities in which they reside.

PHILIP WIGAL, SR.

59

In the year 1797, Peter Dereuberger, (a German), emigrated with his
family from the State of Pennsylvania, and settled on Lee creek, back
hack of Belleville Bottom. He was a worthy, industrious citizen, raised
a large family. Many of his numerous descendants are living in this
county, and are respected for their uprightness of character.

Also, during the same Spring, (1797), John Boso, with his family,
came to this county, and settled on the South Fork of Lee Creek. There
are numerous descendants of this family, residing in the lower part of
this county, respected for their integrity and uprightness of character.

In the year 1787 Jacob Kiems settled there and married a sister- of
Joseph Dewey. Some of the descendants of this family are still resid-
ing in that vicinity. Wc are conscious that in our efforts to gather up
the names of these first settlers in that portion of our county, the names
of many will be omitted for the want of information.

It is to be regretted that during the first years of the settlements made
in this county, that there was found no person to keep a record of those
times and the events then passing. Such a history would be highly ap-
preciated by the inhabitants of the county at the present day.

Among the early pioneers of this county, there were few, if any, who.
have left among us a larger, better, and more industrious posterity than
Mr. Philip U’igal. lie, with his wife and seven small children, emi-
grated from H'estmoreland county. Pa., early in the Spring of 1799, and
settled at the mouth of Lee Creek, some three miles from the Ohio riv-
er, where he opened up a farm and surrounded himselt with the comforts
of a home, raised his family, to which four more children were added,
and there ended his earthly pilgrimage in 1817. His children received
such an education as the country and times furnished. They were
taught to be industrious, persevering and self-reliant, thus making them
thoughtful and considerate.

His eldest daughter, Margaret, was married to ltichard Fortner, of
this county. They raised a large family ol children, many of who mare
still residents of this county.

The son, Jacoh Wigal, was united in marriage to a Miss Quigler, and
removed to Indiana. A Iso, the second daughter, Elizabeth, wasunited
in marriage to Peter Sheets, and moved to and settled in Indiana.

Ilia third son, William Wigal, remained at the homestead place, on
the farm on Lee Creek. He is now eighty three years of age. aud is one
of the few who has cho n to spend a life of single blessedness.

Catherine, the third < m lighter, was married ; Henry Brockheart, and
moved from this county. She was the mother of seven children, and was
buried at 1 loekingport, Ohio.

Ilis fourth son, George Wigal, (ar. infant three months old when
his parents came to this county), settled ou the North Fork of Lee
Creek. His first wife was Miss Rebecca Sams, who, at her death, left
him with one child. Ilis seocudwife was Miss Sarah Gill, who has giv-

•30

C.ZOKP.E WIGAL.

cn to him eight children. These children arc all settled near him, with
their families, and are in good easy circumstances. George Wigal is
now in the eightieth year of his age, and has continued to reside in this
county. During his past life he has witnessed the great and wonderful
changes which have taken place in this country in the present centunn
He is a man well read in the history cd his. country, and has a vast fund
of useful information relative to the many changes and improvements
made in his time. Patient industry, frugality and economy, has enabled
hi in to provide homes and settle his children around him, and in their
prosperity and happiness he is enjoying the blessings of a happy old age.

The fifth son of Philip Wigal, is Daniel Wigal, born at Belleville. lie
married Matilda Joseph, daughter of Joseph Joseph, late of this county.
They have eight children. IIe reside- on I.ee Creek.

Barbara W igul, the fourth daughter, was married to James Sams, of
Tvgart Creek, and has three children. He died about twenty years ago.

Philip Wigal. Jr., the sixth son, married Miss Nancy Sheets. They
have thirteen children, all residing in the lower part of this county.

Miss Sarah Wigal, the youngest child ar.d fifth daughter, married John
Congrove, and moved to and lives in the State of Ohio.

It would form an interesting chapter to trace the families of each of
the descendants of Philip Wigal. Sr., deceased. This would require* much
patient toil, as well as expense.

In closing this brief sketch of the elder Philip Wigal and his family,
and numerous descendants in this county, it is a remarkable occurrence
that all of his descendants are in comfortable and easy eirecmstances,
and are honored and respected by their fellow citizens. Honesty, indus-
try and economy are their prevailing characteristics.

This brings our notice of Belleville down to the year 1800, the date of
the formation of Wood county.

'

CHAPTER, 2C

Peter G. YanYk inkle. '■

The first recognition of any material importance which Parkersburg
and Wood county received from the State Legislature of Old Virginia in.
the way of improvement, and bringing them into public notice, was the
establishment and completion of the Northwestern Virginia Turnpike
road, leading from Winchester, in the Valley of Virginia, over the Alle-
gheny mountains, westward to- Parkersburg, on the Ohio river, a dis-
tance of two hundred and thirty miles. At that time, (ISob), Parkers-
burg was a small town of about two hundred inhabitants, pleasantly sit-
uated on the Southern bank of the Ohio river, at and above its junction
with the Little Kanawha river, a stream of considerable .importance,
heading in the Allegheny mountains, and running in a northwestern di-
rection about one hundred and fifty miles. The country extending from
the Ohio, eastwardly to the Allegheny mountains, was a vast wilderness,
with a few towns and settlements interspersed here and there, of long
standing. Its vast, heavy timbered forests, majestic mountain ranges,
of arable lands, rich, fertile valleys, abounding in numerous streams,
with its salubrious climate, and grand scenery, were^he common heritage
of wild beasts, pursued by and became the sport of hunters. Such was
the brief outline of Wes 'em Virginia, when this Northwe •’t n Turnpike
was projected and com ted.

It was about this time in the history of Parkersburg a . , Woodtcoun-
ty, that Mr. Peter G. VunNVinkle came, and completed . < law studies
in the office of the late Gen. .John .1. Jacksr a. and after carefully sur-
v eying the relative position of Parkersburg in its connection with the
seaboard cities of the East, and the unfolding cities of the great inland
West, he determined on making it his future permanent home. This
question of his citizenship being thus permanently settled, he untiringly

62

nON\ PETER G. VANWINKLE.

devoted liis mi ml ami energies to the work of developing' the resour-
ces and advantages of Western Virginia. In this employment Ins pen
was never idle, when an opportunity of advancing the common in-
terests presented itself. lie lived long enough to personally realize
many of the bright day dreams of his imagination. lie lived long
enough to not only command the personal esteem and homage of the
citizens of his adopted county and home, but of the citizens of our
common country.

The standard of a pure morality had in him a bright living expo-
nent, and was exemplified in the private walks ot life, in the counsel
chambers of the State, and in the Senatorial Halls of Congress. We
have here introduced this chapter on the life and character of our
personal friend, to give the reader some correct knowledge of the
past, as well as the present condition of this comity in its advanced
history.

We will here say, that the city ot Parkersburg is situated at the •
lower, or southern extremity ot a high and wide bottom of land, ex-
tending down the Valiey of the Ohio, from Briscoe’s Run to the Lit-
tle Kanawha river, a distance of six miles, and contains an area of
about five thousand acres. Two miles South of Parkersburg, Worth-
ington Creek enters the Little Kanawha from the East. The bottoms
of this river and creek, in the vicinity East and South of Parkersburg,
contain an area of about five thousand acres, well adapted to city im- V

provements. An elevated ridge separates these lands, and presents
commanding views as sites for suburban residences.

We close this chapter, devoted to our friend, the Hon. Peter G.

Vail Winkle, by inserting a biographical sketch of him, which we pre-
peared and published in the Odd Fellows Guardian , of Chicago, 111.,
of which Order he was an honorable and worthy member: ;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. „ . ,

•"The memory of the just is blessed.” — Solomon

In this dark world of sin and suffering, there are oasis springing up
in the desert of man’s mortality. Among these, the memory lingers
and deli'/hts to dwell, as the warm affections of the heart cluster
around > ., whispering through all its silent chambers, of a better
world, ;■ ghterhomc and purer life, i is thus, amid the impress-
ive embi ms, dresse* the habilament- mourning, we ; e made to
look back upon the Ike md character o. nr worthy Brot the late
lion. Peter Godwin Van Winkle, who departed this life on the morn-
ing of the 15th of April, 1872, aged 63 years, 7 months and 8 days.

On the paternal, as also on the maternal (Godwin) sides of his pa-
rentage, his family records went back to the early settlement of the
colonics of this country . He was the third son of Mr, Peter Van Win-

HON*. PETER G. VANWINKLE.

G3

klo and his wife, Mrs. Pliebe Godwin, horn in the city of New ^ ork.
the 7th of September, 180S. Being endowed by nature with studious
habits and an enquiring mind, he in early life laid the basis ot a good
education; and in all his after years, by his unwearied diligence and
close application, he studied to improve, until he became a ripe schol-
ar, a correct thiuker and an able writer, with a wide sweep ot practic-
al knowledge. His love ol ietters was so great, that in all the active
duties and claims of life, and the laborious studies of the law, (his pro-
fession), he found time to improve his talents in the higher walks of
literature, and his manuscripts grace the pages of many literary jour-
nals of the day. -

On the 2Ht of September, 1831, at Paramos, Bergen county. New
Jersey, lie was most happily united in marriage with Miss Juliet Rath-
boue, daughter of the late Judge W. P. Rathbone,a lady of finished
accomplishments ami relined manners, social in intercourse, with a
most amiable disposition and warmth of affection. By her he became
the father of six children; three of whom died early in infancy. His
fourth, the late Hon. Rathbono Van Winkle,- died at his residence in
this city, in 187(1, thus leaving at the time of nis death his youngest
>oii, Godwin, and his youngest daughter, Mrs. Blackford, to mourn
his loss. His loving and accomplished wife, after a long and painful
■illness, died in 1844.

Mr. VanWinkle came to this city early in the year 1835, and com-
pleted his study of law in the office of the late Gen, John J. Jackson,
and was admitted to practice in our Courts. At that time this coun-
try was comparatively new, and Parkersburg was a small town, sur-
rounded by woods, with a vast undeveloped country, stretching away
to the East and South against the Allegheny mountains. Yet from
its relative position, geographically, lying in direct line between the
sea-hoard cities and the far off, and outspreading West, he came to the
conclusion that it had a bright future, and determined to make it his
future home. lie formed a co-partuership in the practice of law
with Gen. J. J. Jackson, and gave the energies of his mind in leisure
hours to the development and growth of this place and the sursound-
ing country. Our county papers, both editorially and otherwise,
teemed with articles from his able pen, setting forth its local and com-
mercial advantages. These weekly contributions in our papers un-
folded to the enquiring mind the vast, rich resources of wealth, hid-
den in our mountains and valleys, the music of its water power pass-
ing through the unbrokc . solitudes of one of the most salubrious cli-
mates on earth, inviting die enterprise of the capitalist and the strong
energy of the woodsman’s ax.

The public spirit and enterprise of his mind, thus seen in and thro'
these articles from his pen, allied him with the council of ourgrow-
ing town, and made him President of its Board. This relation he
sustained for many years; and, indeed, until a wider sphere of use-

HOX. PETER O. VANWINKLE.

64

fulness opened out before him to till. Wherever and whenever enter-
prise, public or private, looked to the advancement of our town or
count;', it at ail times found in him a triend and advocate; and he be-
came an able eo- worker in securing its advantages to our city. lie
was for the first seven years President of the Little Kanawha Bridge
Company; also Secretary for several years of the Northwestern Va.
Railroad Company, and then its President; and then President ot the
Parkersburg Branch Railway Company. To the faithful performance
of the duties of all these offices, lie brought his untiring energies, and
discharged the same with entire satisfaction to all interested, in
them.

In 1850 he was elected and served with distinguished honor and
ability in the State Convention of Virginia, for revising the Constitu-
tion. Ilis labors upon committees were arduous : yet lie found time
to assist our representative, and contributed largely, in securing the
passage of the Act incorporating our Railroad, lie Was a prominent
and working member of the Wheeling Convention of 1861 ; also of
the Convention of 1862, which formed the Constitution of West Va.;
and was a member of the Legislature of this State, from its organiza-
tion to dune, 1863. In August of that year he was elected a Senator
in Congress from this State, for the term ending 4th of March, 1869.
In all these responsible and high .positions ot trust, as a statesman, he
fulfilled the arduous duties with marked ability, conscientious exact-
ness and unwavering devotion to the Lest interests of. his country. —
The same conscientious regard for truth and justice, which marked
all the acts of his private life, ' he brought into tiie political
arena of his public life, as his guide in the performance of duty.

No base or private prejudices, or unholy passions ever marked or
marred his career in all his intercourse with his associates in public
and private life. During the late unhappy war, when the passions of
many ran riot with the spirit of revenge, there was no individual case
where the finger of angeV or resentment could he pointed at him
as being unjust and unmerciful. His nature rose above the an-
gry passions of vindictive hate, or the malignant policy and purpose
of carping demagogues. His carefully formed ami well balanced mind,
resting upon the golden rule of right and justice, at all times felt its
responsibility, and nov< swerved from a conscientious purpose of
moral rectitude.

It is with the giv asure we can look over d view the life

.and character of our . d friend, as a citizen in rate life, and as

an officer in his public or, giving, (as he has ik iy done), to the

world a bright example of a life of unwavering effort, which" has cul-
minated in an honored and honorable repose. But in closing this
sketch to his memory and virtues, we feel and mourn the loss of a
Brother Odd Fellow, whose voice once cheered us in our counsels, and

o

.

HON. PETER O. VANWINKLE.

65

whose life and character was a living exposition of the holy ritual of our
beloved Order. Peter Godwin VanWinkle was the Senior Past Grand of
Parkersburg Lodge, No. 7. I. O. O. F., and no member in life and char-
acter ever reflected more honor upon that office, or gave brighter evi-
dences to the claims of Odd-Fcllowsbip. .For years past he made dona-
tions annually of fifty dollars, for the benefit of widows and orphans of
the Lodge, thus causing the blessings of the bereaved to light up the
pathway along life’s closing journey. But he has passed from the liv-
ing of earth, full of years and full of honors, “to the rest of the Patri-
archs.”

It is at such a moment we realize the gathering darkness of the tomb
over the days of our mortality — we realize the loosening of the silver
cord — the breaking of the golden bowl — the dropping of the pitcher at
the fountain — the wrecking of the wheel at the cistern, for man goeth to
his long home. Our friend and brother “has passed the years of his
appointed time,” “the days of the years of his pilgrimage are numbered.”
With “the evergreen as an emblem of immortality,” his remains were
committed to the silence of the grave, “for the memory of the righteous
shall be in remembrance forever and ever.”

To the Readers : —

This last Chapter of the foregoing, is that much added to the original
design when we commenced these pages. They are presented as a trib-
ute to the memory of a personal friend, whose manhood years were
spent among the citizens of this community — one whose pen added
largely to the material wealth and position of the county and State.

Should these pages be appreciated by my fellow citizens, so as to be-
come partially remunerative for the time, toil and expense in their prep-
aration, they will be followed by a continuation of the history of the
county, with its first settlers and their descendants, with descriptions of
lands and sources of wealth.

The city of Parkersburg, with its various changes of names, etc., will
form the opening Chapter of this continued work.

S. C. SHAW.

Leafy Glenn, West Virginia,
ovember, ‘1878.

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